indeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very
declining birth rates; decrease in the number of children
(divine) providence; dispensation
hard; tough; hardware; hard disk
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
pure white; blank (e.g. mind, paper)
to be blind to one's shortcomings; to play innocent
losing easily; being trounced; being beaten hands down
accounting; finance; bill (at a restaurant); check; accountant; treasurer
it was, wasn't it?; must have been; I think (it was); how might it have been?
common camellia (Camellia japonica)
present (brought by a visitor); gift
softly; mildly; gently; politely
side street (often parallel to a main street); back street; alley; alleyway
alley; alleyway; teahouse garden; path through a gate (or through a garden, etc.)
real estate agent; realtor
to run (a business); to operate; to carry out; to perform; to hold (a Buddhist or Shinto ceremony)
to give flowers as a gift
difficulty; hardship; trouble; infeasibility; inability (to carry out)
moth orchid (Phalaenopsis aphrodite)
statute of limitations; lapse of rights after a period of time; becoming invalid or void after a set time; ageing; aging
husband; master (of a house, shop, etc.)
untalkative; quiet; taciturn; reticent; uncommunicative
for two people's eyes to meet; catching someone's eye; making eye contact; meeting a person's gaze
pleasant; agreeable; comfortable; refreshing
that gentleman; that lady; he; she
to touch; to come in contact with; to receive (e.g. visitor); to attend to; to receive (news); to get; to encounter
yōkan; jellied dessert made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar
candy fashioned in human and animal forms
red-blossomed plum tree; red Japanese apricot
to be placed on; to be set on; to be piled on; to appear (in print); to be mentioned; to be recorded
wrong; not good; hopeless; past hope; must not do
the teens (10-19); teenage; the tenth generation
not ... for nothing; not ... with nothing to show for it; worthwhile; no wonder ...
to bring up a subject; to touch on a matter
amiability; friendliness; fondness (of someone); affection; compliments; civilities