uneven; irregular; non-uniform; unsorted; odd; miscellaneous
tenacious; tough; enduring; dogged; headstrong; stubborn
mouse; rat; dark gray; dark grey; slate (color, colour)
self-assessment; self-evaluation; self-rating; self-esteem
(sound of) laughter; laughing voice
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
training; drill; practice; discipline
to sum it up in one word; ... is the word for it
to warm up to; to get interested in; to get excited by
as a test; as an experiment; by way of experiment; by way of trial; tentatively
shell; husk; hull; pod; chaff
eggs; egg; (hen's) egg; (an expert) in the making; beginning; origin
on the contrary; rather; all the more; instead
young bird; chick; fledgling; hina doll; doll displayed during the Girls' Festival
to happen to meet; to come across
getting nauseated; getting angry
thoughtless; reckless; rash; excessive; unreasonable; immoderate
to perceive; to sense; to understand; to comprehend; to attain enlightenment
separation (e.g. of rubbish when recycling); classification; discrimination; division; distinction
on the surface; ostensibly; superficially; apparently
point worthy of note; highlight; high point; good prospects for the future; promise
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
personality; character; personal appearance; gentility
of good character; kindhearted; good-natured
reversal; return; return gift; return favour (favor); barb (on a fishing hook); mixture of soy sauce, sugar and mirin
opposition; resistance; antagonism; reverse; opposite; inverse
willpower; guts; determination; character; nature; disposition
good luck; fortune; happiness; harvest; yield
outskirts (of a town); run-down district
thin (e.g. air); diluted; sparse; lacking (e.g. empathy); deficient; insufficient (e.g. zeal)
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
deception; make-believe; fake; counterfeit; phony
to have an ulterior motive; to have an axe to grind
to scatter; to sprinkle; to distribute (handbills, etc.); to spread (rumours, etc.); to give the slip; to throw off
pleasant; delightful; enjoyable; joyful; cheerful; amusing
to meet fortuitously (e.g. running into an old friend); to meet by chance; to happen across
paper (in rock-paper-scissors); disappearing completely; coming to nought; foolishness; stupidity
to be interested in; to take an interest in; to care about
being startled; getting a shock
cowardice; timidity; bashfulness
goes before a verb to strengthen its meaning or to add emphasis
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid