intellectual curiosity; out of curiosity; inquisitiveness
substitute; replacement; stand-in; proxy; compensation; exchange
occupation; profession; job; vocation; trade; calling
to do for real; to do in real life; to carry (a story) into actual practice
to suit; to match; to become; to be like
signature phrase; signature saying
this way and that; (by) various means; (by) every means
though; notwithstanding; although
part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role; duties
possibly; by some possibility; perhaps
once; before; formerly; never yet; never before; first time
lover; sweetheart; boyfriend; girlfriend
having little knowledge (of); being ill-informed
well-known only to those in the know; be well-known but to the few; highly regarded by a select few
novel; original; striking; strange; eccentric; fantastic
outward appearance; exterior appearance; outward show; looks
to be conspicuous; to stand out
light (i.e. not heavy); feeling light (i.e. offering little resistance, moving easily); light (i.e. of foot); effortless; non-serious; minor; slight
to get lost; to become lost; to go astray
entrance; entry; gate; approach; mouth
(stone) guardian lion-dogs at Shinto shrine
artificial product; man-made product; fiction; made-up story; decoration (e.g. for a festival); theatrical prop (esp. a large prop in noh or kyogen, e.g. tree, well, boat)
to attract notice; to catch the eye; to stand out
stairs; stairway; staircase
to turn over (face down); to lay face down; to point downwards (eyes, head, etc.); to cast down (eyes); to lie (one's body) face down; to lie flat (on the ground)
cute; adorable; dear; precious; innocent; childlike
to spring; to bound; to be stimulated; to be encouraged; to pay handsomely; to splurge
somehow or other; for some reason or another; without knowing why
liked; well-liked; in love (with); loved; faddism; eccentricity
to divide (into); to split (into); to share; to distribute; to distinguish; to discriminate; to break up (a fight)