natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
chime; bell (e.g. doorbell)
substitute; replacement; stand-in; proxy; compensation; exchange
to leave as is; to ignore
inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into); investigation; search; exploration
complete set (of volumes); every volume; whole volume; whole film; whole reel
one breath; chug!; drink!
reading; reading (of a kanji, esp. kun reading); reading (e.g. of a situation); insight
volume (of book); reel (of film); scroll (of books or paintings); roll (paper, etc.)
deadly serious; deadly earnest
toilet; restroom; lavatory; bathroom
study camp; overnight field trip; travelling class; class held in a different room (music, science, etc.)
eccentric; oddball; character; weirdo
hereabouts; around there; that area
speaking of; (I told you) already; come on
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
effect; efficacy; validity; potency
habit (often a bad habit, i.e. vice); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
failing to reach an agreement
in an instant; instantly; in a moment; instantaneously; in the twinkling of an eye
yakiniku; Japanese dish of grilled meat similar to Korean barbecue; roasted meat; grill
refreshing (e.g. feeling, scene, wind, morning air); brisk; bracing; fresh; refreshed
impudent; shameless; brazen; forward; audacious; cheeky
competition rate; success rate; ratio of successful (applicants) to total applicants
a little; for a moment; a short while; just a minute
world history; international history
for a long time; since long ago; always; already; far in advance (e.g. reservation)
spine (of book); binding (of book)
Tanizaki Jun'ichirō (1886-1965)
to pick up; to adopt (e.g. a proposal); to accept; to take away; to confiscate; to deliver (a baby)
author; writer; novelist; artist
pure literature; belles-lettres
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically