telephone call; phone call; telephone (device); phone
such a stupid ...; what a crazy ...; no way!; what nonsense!; how can that be?
lisping; poorly expressed; unclear (wording); imprecise (expression)
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
long; drawn-out; very long
professional comic (rakugo) storyteller
pitch; tone; time; tempo; mood; tendency
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it,...; I mean
to make fun of; to look down on; to make light of
counter for parts, stages, installments, etc. (of a story, series, project, campaign, etc.); counter for bullets
clerk; office worker; kulak
expert; learned person; doctor; PhD; instructor at the imperial court (ritsuryo period); pitch and length marks (to accompany a Buddhist liturgical chant, etc.)
Boys (The Shirelles song)
small token (of gratitude); my (humble) feelings
short joke; quick one-liner; one-shot joke
failure story; horror story
Second World War (1939-1945); World War II; WWII; WW2
to surround; to crowd around
alphabet; ABCs; the ABCs (of); basics; activity-based costing; ABC
encirclement; encircling net; tight besiegement
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to show someone (into a room)
setting a question (for an exam, quiz, etc.); setting a theme (for composition of poetry)
posing a question; question
(United States of) America; United States; US; America (land mass); the Americas
United Kingdom; Britain; Great Britain; England
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryo system)
somehow; for some reason; without knowing why
Latin alphabet; Roman alphabet; romaji; romanized Japanese; system of transliterating Japanese into the Latin alphabet
to read and understand; to subject to close analysis; to read deeply; to decipher; to decode
axle; pivot; center (of power, activity); central point; the Axis (WWII alliance)
explanation; commentary; exposition; elucidation
needle; pin; hook; stinger; thorn; hand (e.g. clock, etc.); pointer
announcement; presentation; demonstration; displaying; showing; introducing
to sprain; to twist; to dampen (enthusiasm); to discourage; to dishearten
will; volition; intention; intent; determination
mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together
thunderous roar of laughter (from multiple people); loud burst of laughter; explosive laughter