standing for; advocating; championing; professing (to be)
if you think about it; come to think of it
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
may I come in?; please forgive me; I'm sorry
dirt floor; room with dirt floor; pit (theater seating); parterre
at once; right away; promptly; on the spur of the moment
stairs; stairway; staircase
four and a half tatami mats; four-and-a-half-mat room; small room esp. for assignations
tatami mat; Japanese straw floor coverings
living by oneself; living alone
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
one's later years; final years (in life)
kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat
to enter (house, room, etc.); to step in
confections; sweets; candy; cake
creak; squeak; creaking sound
to sound; to ring; to resound; to echo; to roar; to rumble
instant; moment; for an instant
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
to cease; to stop; to be over
to hurry; to rush; to hasten; to make something happen sooner
to peek (through a keyhole, gap, etc.); to look down into (a ravine, etc.); to peek into (a shop, bookstore, etc.); to sneak a look at; to take a quick look at; to peep (through a telescope, microscope, etc.); to stick out (a scarf from a collar, etc.)
low dining table; tea table
above; up; top; summit; surface; before; previous
to be placed on; to be set on; to be piled on; to appear (in print); to be mentioned; to be recorded
as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough; really; actually; ever
skillful; skilful; delicious; appetizing; fortunate; splendid
follower; attendant; valet; servant
to hold something reverently with both hands
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
reality; actuality; hard fact
conviction; belief; confidence
whispering; whisper; secret talk; murmur
(short) curtain hung at shop entrance; split curtain used to divide spaces in a house; reputation (of a store); good name; goodwill
to push aside; to push one's way through
huh?; eh?; what?; oh; hey!; look!
hello; good day; good afternoon
to stiffen; to become stiff
follow; following (on social media, esp. Twitter); follow-up; following up; backing-up; covering for; follow-up shot
to pull oneself together; to collect oneself (after a failure); to regain control (of oneself)
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into