secret intention; ulterior motive; kanji "heart" radical at bottom
with a slap; with a pop; without batting an eyelid; generously; cutesy suffix applied to names
to strike; to clap; to play drums; to abuse; to bash; to consult; to sound out
parent; parents; dealer (in cards, mahjong, etc.); banker; founder; inventor; (pet) owner
opponent; rival; adversary; menace; danger; threat
land mine; topic that sets someone off; sensitive topic; something that seems fine at first but turns out to be very bad (e.g. product, business); booby trap
to step on; to tread on; to set foot on (e.g. foreign soil); to stand on; to experience; to undergo; to follow (rules, principles, etc.)
to clear; to make clear; to be unruffled; to look unconcerned; to look demure; to look prim
anger; rage; fury; wrath; indignation
to take in one's hand; to pick up; to obtain
personal affairs; private matter; personal secret; privacy
that day; the very same day
leaving a decision to someone else (often of a meal to be selected by the chef); omakase
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
(it) goes without saying; needn't be said; that should rather be left unsaid
dangerous; risky; awful; terrible; terrific; amazing
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
absurd; unreasonable; extreme; senseless; disorderly; chaotic
to be opposite; to face each other; to confront (an issue); to face
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
outsider's perspective; as seen by an observer
to give off (a smell, scent, aroma); to smell of; to perfume (a room, etc.); to hint at; to suggest; to insinuate
provocation; stirring up; arousal; excitement; stimulation
far from; anything but; not at all; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
unexpected; unforeseen; inconceivable
simultaneously; all at once; in unison
one chance; only opportunity; maybe; perhaps; one-night stand
confident; assured; self-assured; bullish (e.g. market)
to be packed (with); to be full (space, schedule, etc.); to be blocked (road, pipe, nose, etc.); to be clogged; to shorten (width, interval, etc.); to shrink (shirt, word form, etc.); to be at a loss
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
to leave a trail; to leave traces; to have a lasting effect
to cut apart (cloth, paper, etc.); to sever (ties); to break off (relationship); to cut off (enemy's retreat); to block (road, etc.)
wicked thought; wicked mind
elegant; graceful; refined; leisurely; comfortable; easy
to push aside; to push one's way through
adult; grown-up; person who has come of age; fully fledged; established; qualified
it's best to; it's safest to; there's nothing better than
every evening; night after night
to cover; to hide; to conceal; to wrap; to disguise
circumstances; condition; to arrange; to manage; to lend money; to raise money
sneer; derision; scornful laugh; cold smile