originally; by nature; from the start
hiragana; cursive Japanese syllabary used primarily for native Japanese words (esp. function words, inflections, etc.)
traditional ordering of the Japanese syllabary; fundamentals; the ABCs of ...
(in) the shape of the character hachi (eight)
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
whole passage; full text; whole sentence; full paragraph
rumour; rumor; report; hearsay; gossip; common talk
to happen to hear; to overhear
below one's eyes; under one's eyes; length (of a fish) from eyes to tail fin
geta for wear in dry weather
spine; line of the backbone; seam down the back (of clothing)
crisply; with a crunch; refreshingly; sharply; (sitting) straight
still (continuing); as ever; further
to separate (by distance, time, etc.); to isolate; to interpose; to have between; to alienate; to estrange
to be(come) intertwined; to be entangled
in good health; healthy; skilled; proficient; master; expert
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
physical punishment; beating; smacking; severe scolding; chastisement; discipline
to raise one's voice; to shout
to be irritated; to get annoyed; to lose one's patience
hey there; I say; see here
Japan's best; number one in Japan
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
to stand, walk, etc. shoulder-to-shoulder; to be on a par with
hardly any; almost nonexistent; very little
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
to fuss over; to be particular about; to be obsessive about; to be fixated on; to obstruct; to hinder
obsession; fixation; complaining; criticizing; speciality (e.g. of restaurants)
wife (esp. one's own wife); court lady; female court attache; (arch.) woman (esp. as a love interest)
conviction; belief; confidence
appearing and disappearing; slipping in and out of view
completely; fully; entirely
evening meal; supper; dinner
to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be badly off; to be hard up
fish served whole (complete with head and tail)
mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus and Sphaerotrichia divaricata, types of edible seaweed)
vinegared dish; pickled dish
dish of vegetables, konnyaku, etc. simmered in soy sauce and water until the liquid is almost gone
red rice (beans and mochi) for auspicious occasions
three (long cylindrical things); three-of-a-kind (in a dealt hand)