last night; the previous night; night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)
jello (gelatin-based dessert); jelly; gel; jelly
to dish up; to arrange food (on a plate)
deep-fried food (esp. chicken)
a few years ago; some years back
what's the best thing to do?; what to do?
lightly; gently; (breaking apart) easily
platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
children's game similar to Statues or Red Light Green Light; Bodhidharma fell down
independently; individually; separately; alone; singlehanded; unassisted
party (political); person who is fond of; fan of
to make use of aizuchi; to back-channel; to throw in interjections to show that one is paying attention
taking a philosophic view; looking at the long term; farsightedness
to go past; to pass; to pass by
one's relatives by blood and marriage (in blood and law); one's kith and kin
thereabouts; vicinity; that area; that situation; those circumstances
(not) so much; (not) that much
to allow; to let (somebody) do; to make (somebody) do
vitality; ability to earn a living
loose (e.g. belt); slovenly; careless; slack
prize awarded for good effort; consolation prize
mindset; outlook; view; way of looking at things; perspective
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
persistent; obstinate; tenacious; relentless; insistent; importunate
to master (e.g. a skill); to become accustomed to (e.g. a lifestyle); to acquire (e.g. a habit); to retain
pretension; conceit; hubris
telephone made from two cans and a piece of string
hearsay; learning by hearsay
to move; to put elsewhere; to tidy; to put in order
to keep one's feet on the ground; to be down to earth
thirst; craving; thirst (for love, knowledge, etc.); hunger
as always; as ever; though it's always the case
poor health; ill health; unhealthy
hypothesis; supposition; assumption; tentative theory
to bring someone happiness; to make someone happy
neutralization; neutralisation; counteraction
like everyone else; like most people; like an ordinary person; as much as anyone else
to take great pains; to make every effort; to rack one's brains; to be concerned; to worry
lately; recently; nowadays
(not) always; (not) necessarily; (not) entirely; (not) all