one's home country; one's homeland
to heal; to cure; to satisfy (e.g. hunger, thirst); to alleviate (e.g. sorrow, fatigue)
obligation; favour; favor; debt of gratitude
fluent (in a language); flowing
to find useful; to think highly of
interview (e.g. for a job)
advice (to a superior); counsel; proposal; suggestion; recommendation
rest period; intermission; break time; recess
backyard; background; room in a store or restaurant not open to customers (often storage room)
to take (someone) with one; to bring along; to go with; to be accompanied by
appearance; air; mien; getup
tea (usu. green); tea break (at work); tea ceremony
to weather (a storm, rough seas); to ride across; to get through (adversity); to weather; to load completely (e.g. books on a shelf, people or luggage in a car)
student in a higher grade; upperclassman
confluence (of rivers); merge (of traffic); conflux; union (e.g. of forces); linking up; merging
quite indifferent; looking blank; looking as though one has nothing at all to do with what is going on
suddenly; abruptly; unexpectedly
to shake one's head (in denial)
speaking of; (I told you) already; come on
clean; hygienic; sanitary; pure; virtuous; immaculate
aroma; fragrance; scent; smell
chain (bicycle, measuring, tire, etc.); chain (store, hotel, etc.)
café; cafe; coffeehouse; hostess bar (serving western alcoholic beverages; Taisho and Showa period)
slapping on (stamp, sticker); flopping down
rainy season (in Japan usu. from early June to mid-July); rain during the rainy season
glittering; sparkling; glistening; twinkling
electric line; electric cable; power cable; telephone line; telegraph wire
acceleration; speeding up
to be late; to be delayed; to fall behind (in a race, one's studies, etc.); to lag behind; to be bereaved of; to be preceded by (someone) in death
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
to mix; to combine; to exchange (words, fire, etc.); to cross (e.g. swords); to join together
cram school; private tutoring school; juku
little by little; bit by bit; sparingly