to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
some; several; many; how many; how much; very
firm; strong; solid; stable
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
to throb (with pain); to ache; to smart; to rankle; to gall; to rile
solitude; loneliness; isolation
to be born and raised (in); to be born and brought up; to be born and bred
town; block; downtown; main street; street; road
by nature; naturally; by birth; inborn
stigma; dishonour; dishonor; infamy
as a child; when one was a child; childhood
back street; back alley; off-street
every day; daily; day after day; days (e.g. good old days)
next generation; future generation
to shut; to close; to block (a street, entrance, etc.); to shut in (with snow, ice, etc.); to shut off; to consume (with negative feelings)
to go against; to fight against; to oppose; to resist; to deny
simple honesty; tactless frankness
thief; robber; burglar; rebel; insurgent; traitor
used; second-hand; old; Middle Ages (in Japan esp. Heian period)
evening; night; dinner; evening meal; counter for nights
since then; from that time; ever since
to reach the point that; to come to be that; to turn into
to pick up; to find; to gather
to underrate; to belittle; to look down on; to despise
to look down on; to make light of
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to look down on (someone); to make fun of
severe; harsh; hard; cruel; rigorous
to struggle; to writhe; to wriggle; to act frantically; to make desperate efforts
to live through; to survive
this for sure; certainly is
to climb over; to get over; to surmount; to overcome; to surpass; to overtake
not caring; not giving a damn
losing one's position; losing one's standing; downfall; fall (from power); being overthrown
feeling refreshed; feeling relieved; neat; tidy; frank; open-hearted; completely
adverse circumstances; adversity
staring (e.g. eyes); goggling; glaring
to keep a watchful eye on
descent; fall; drop; passing down (of an order, decree, etc.)
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly
to push up; to force up; to pressure one's superiors; to burst out (of emotions, etc.); to fill one's heart
laser; Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation