change of pace; change of mood; (mental) break (e.g. going for a walk); refreshment
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
comic books; comics; comic; comical
buying and reading (book, magazine, etc.); subscribing (incl. free subscriptions); taking (e.g. newspaper)
bookshelves; bookshelf; bookcase
rough-hewn; incomplete; unrefined; still in the process of being formed
deep emotion; impression; inspiration
gyudon; rice covered with sliced beef, usu. with vegetables
ownership; dominion; ownership rights; proprietorship; property rights
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
very busy (person or thing)
uneventfully; without incident; without a hitch; peacefully
science (inc. mathematics, medicine, etc.); natural science; science department (university); science course; science (as a school subject)
hand-me-down; food offering to the gods; leftovers; trip from Kyoto to the provinces
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
five times (as much); quintuple; fivefold
interview (e.g. for a job)
to pour water (into); to dilute with water; to hinder; to hamper; to throw cold water on
hand-to-hand fighting; grappling; scuffling
thirteenth day of the month; thirteen days
chocolate given to a man on Valentine's day out of genuine sentiment
favorite (to win); favourite; likely winner; one's heart's desire; first choice
review (of learned material); revision
supper; night meal; late-night snack; "fourth meal"; midnight snack
to rise up (e.g. pillar of smoke); to go up
onigiri; rice ball (often triangular, sometimes with a filling and wrapped in nori)
crispy; crunchy; tearing; ripping; spirited; energetic
nori; laver; edible seaweed, usu. Porphyra yezoensis or P. tenera, usu. dried and pressed into sheets
leaf mustard (Brassica juncea var. integrifolia); mustard greens
to fry; to saute; to stir-fry
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
celebrated personage; big-wig; person in a high position
trade; business; commerce; occupation; calling; profession
pursuit (of a goal, ideal, etc.); search; chase; seeking after
being particular (about); being fussy; being picky; being choosy; being fastidious