to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
babysitting; babysitter; protecting; keeping; keeper
stiffening; rigidity; rigor; stiffness; ossification; petrification
awkward; clumsy; stiff; crude; unrefined; constrained
to pull apart; to separate; to have a lead over; to pull ahead of; to outdistance
practice; putting into practice; implementation; praxis
cats and dogs (as an example of a bad relationship); (lit.) dogs and monkeys
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
to step forward; to step forth; to advance; to start; to embark on; to set forth on
tightly (holding on); firmly; strongly (built); solidly; properly; well
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to have sex with; to make love to; to sit on (eggs); to brood
nice to meet you; I'm glad to make your acquaintance; how do you do?
to come to see; to come and see; to visit
brimming with health (vigor, vigour); full of vitality; full of health
drawing a katana and attacking in the same stroke; doing (something) suddenly and without warning; doing without prior notice
test (of ability, knowledge, etc.); exam; test (of performance, quality, etc.); trial; rehearsal
next (e.g. "next April"); forthcoming; coming; to come; to arrive; to be due to
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
clanging; banging; throbbing (headache); pounding; fully; vigorously
dealing with; coping with
to fall (on); to rain down; to shower down; to befall; to happen (to)
not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage
depression; melancholy; dejection; gloom; despondency
to shake one's head (in denial)
introduction; presentation; referral; showcase (of a product)
once; for a short time; briefly; (arch.) one morning
to take the middle (between the two); to split the difference
opposite side; other side; other party
father's side of family; paternal (grandfather, uncle, etc.)
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
Shizuoka (city, prefecture)
to receive favor; to receive assistance; to receive help; to be looked after; to be taken care of; to become dependent (on)
to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to cancel; to abandon; to give up
to bring back; to restore
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
longish; moderately long; somewhat long; fairly long
curling inwards (esp. of the tips of one's hair)
essential; important; crucial; vital; main