boorish; unrefined; rustic; uncouth; clumsy; brusque
to press a question; to cross-examine
to tighten; to stiffen; to brace; to strain
early post war period; immediately after the war
to hesitate; to have scruples; to be afraid of what others may think; to lord it over; to have great influence
to lower one's voice; to speak with a hushed voice
so; like that; that's right; indeed; let me see...
August; eighth month of the lunar calendar
after this; from now on; hereafter; thereafter; since (then); after
thank you; thanks; much (thanks); very (sorry); quite; really; somehow
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such
to dance (orig. a hopping dance)
possibly; apparently; (seem) likely; somehow or other; with difficulty; barely
new government; new administration
every place; various places
nothing; naught; nought; un-; non-
wrong; not good; hopeless; past hope; must not do
lingering attachment; lingering affection; regret; reluctance; ruefulness
to gather in large numbers (of people); to hang out (as a large group); to assemble (as a military unit or posse); to be quartered (in a particular location)
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up
eyes sparkling; with shining eyes; for one's eyes to gleam
to interfere (with); to hinder; to be hindered (from doing); to become impeded; to have difficulty; to suffer inconvenience
(one) matter; (one) item; (one) case
details; particulars; detailed; specific; close-up view (of a digitally displayed map); zoomed-in view
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; strictness; cruelty
the Ox (second sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Ox (around 2am, 1-3am, or 2-4am); north-northeast; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
daytime; during the day; time from sunrise until sunset; diurnal period
being extremely busy; being swamped with work
occasional; infrequent; rare
unsteadily (e.g. on one's feet); shakily; wavering (in one's mind); unsteadily; aimlessly; unconsciously
haiku; 17-mora poem, usu. in 3 lines of 5, 7 and 5 morae
inspiration; afflatus; ability to sense the supernatural (esp. ghosts, etc.)
(flight of) stone steps; stone stairway
to talk about; to speak of; to recite; to chant; to indicate; to show
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface