unprecedented; never happened before; first time in history
to build up; to establish (one's reputation)
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
to swoop down upon; to fly down; to alight
I wonder; do you think?; I might; some kind; some stage; somehow
to begin a trip; to depart; to embark; to die; to pass away; to depart this life
front and rear; front and back; before and after; around; about; order; context
to be contrary to; to be inconsistent with; to act contrary to (rules or guidelines); to violate; to oppose; to rebel
to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge
informal consent; private consent
to need; to demand; to take; to require
document; writing; letter; document addressed to someone
(animal) feed; fodder; pet food; bait; lure; enticement
labor; labour; toil; trouble; pains; work
to show appreciation for (efforts, esp. by someone of equal or lower status); to thank for; to reward for
to look downwards; to lower one's eyes
letter; missive; note; mail
melancholy air; anxious look; traces of sorrow; gloom
fixed period; fixed term; regular; periodic; fixed-term commuter pass; fixed-term deposit
periodic; regular; routine
contacting; (making) contact; connection (with a train, bus, etc.); joining (a railway line, etc.); connection (between matters, incidents, etc.); relation
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
lately; recently; nowadays
recent state; present state; present condition; current status; current circumstances
dots; spots; bit by bit; little by little; here and there; scattered
to spell; to write; to compose; to bind (e.g. documents); to patch
as usual; as is one's habit
languid; weary; listless; melancholy
to yearn for; to long for; to follow (someone); to idolize (for virtue, learning, status, etc.)
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?
to rage; to storm (at); to be furious; to enthuse; to speak enthusiastically; to speak with vigour
threatening attitude; menacing look; angry look
colluding; complicity; liaison; compromise; giving in
seeing through (a trick, someone's mind, etc.)
refutation; rebuttal; retort
external; foreign (e.g. relations); public (e.g. image)
according to; reads; reading; is written; says; states
good story; heartwarming story; good prospect (e.g. marriage, business)
casual; unconcerned; nonchalant
to cock one's head in puzzlement; to tilt one's head in contemplation; to wrack one's brain; to think hard
staringly; fixedly; unblinkingly