essence; quintessence; spirit; soul; heart; pith
school festival; cultural festival; annual open day school event showcasing student talent
to be careful; to pay attention; to take care
speech; expression; wording; language
speech; words; one's lines; remarks
the trouble is that ...; the problem is that ...; unfortunately; annoyingly
degree of familiarity; popularity
average (normal, ordinary) year; every year; annually
(fighting) spirit; motivation; shout (for getting in the right mood to deal with something, etc.); cheer; kiai; short shout when performing an attacking move
rising to action; standing up against; jumping to one's feet
these days; nowadays; recently
refreshment booth; refreshment stand; snack bar
interest; eagerness; enthusiasm
abstention; nonparticipation
proper; right; reasonable
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
hurriedly; in a hurry; in haste; (arch.) sudden
big-shot; influential person; happy face; smiling face; sympathetic attitude; getting along with
hurdle; hurdle race; hurdles; hurdle; obstacle
tuck (e.g. in a dress); rise (e.g. in price)
to be pretentious; to put on airs
to soothe; to calm; to pacify
most interesting part (of a story); climax; good part; scenic spot; beautiful place
number of persons; personnel
without; but if; otherwise; or else
creed; belief; conviction; article of faith
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
ring; circle; hoop; wheel; circle (e.g. of friends)
to give candid advice; to give harsh but honest advice; to admonish
amateur; layman; respectable woman (i.e. not a prostitute, hostess, geisha); (arch.) unlicensed prostitute
ordinary; average; run-of-the-mill
to investigate thoroughly; to examine closely; to probe into; to be obsessed with a thought; to brood over; to worry about
to hurry (up); to press; to urge on
(one's) quota; assignment
first thing in the afternoon