reservation; putting on hold; deferment
these days; nowadays; present day; at this time (of the day)
hill; height; knoll; bonus points awarded to the winner at the end of a game
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use
to decorate; to ornament; to display; to exhibit; to mark (e.g. the day with a victory); to adorn (e.g. the front page)
approximate age; age range
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
small build; small stature; petite; small pattern
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
guest; visitor; customer; client; counter for containers used to entertain guests
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
speech; expression; wording; language
to break (into pieces); to be broken; to collapse; to crumble; to become less formal; to throw off reserve
tension; mental strain; nervousness
to leave one's seat; to temporarily excuse oneself (from a meeting, etc.); to step outside; to be away (from one's desk, etc.)
plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
standard language (used in government, education, etc.); standard Japanese
Kansai; region consisting of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and surrounding prefectures; Kansai; south-western half of Japan (during the feudal era)
direction; district; area; field (e.g. of study); sphere; quarter
surreptitious glance; looking furtively
to visit; to call on; to pay a visit to
rumination; regurgitation; chewing the cud; turning over in one's mind; thinking over something; pondering
daughter; girl (i.e. a young, unmarried woman)
illegitimate child; secret love child
exactly; just; precisely; punctually; exactly on time
coarse, low-grade tea; tea (often used when offering someone a cup)
manners; etiquette; propriety; manner of production (esp. of prose, poetry, etc.); way of making
to conform to; to be in accordance with; to follow (rule, tradition, example, etc.)
being afraid of; being fearful; being timid; trembling; shivering
to ask a question; to ask questions
judging from; on the basis of; from the point of view of
gentlemen; men; the men's (sign on toilet, bathroom, etc. doors)
never (even in error); never, ever; never, no matter what happens; by no means
elder brother; one's senior; older man; man older than oneself