to tower over the surroundings
to smile cheerfully; to crack a smile
long-established shop; shop of long standing; old shop
sluggish; languid; listless; bothersome; tiresome
business conditions; the market; good (economic) times; prosperity; liveliness; energy
small dining table (usu. for a single person); serving tray (with legs); meal; food; counter for bowlfuls of rice; counter for pairs of chopsticks
arrangement of food (on a dish); serving of (arranged) food
assistant; helper; assistant (to a professor); research assistant
account book; register; ledger
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); one's husband; (one's) employer; (one's) master; host
approval; acceptance; recognition; private seal; signet
pulling down one's lower eyelid and sticking out one's tongue (as a taunt or gesture of contempt or rejection); no way!; no!; get lost!
already completely (did, happened, etc.); already entirely
crops; agricultural produce
abhorrent; abominable; detestable; ominous; inauspicious; unlucky
term-end exam; end-of-term test; finals
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
to occur repeatedly; to repeat; to be repeated; to be frequent
collective responsibility; joint liability
free speech; freedom of speech
winter vacation; winter holidays
travel; trip; journey; excursion; tour
to give the stamp of approval
charm; incantation; spell; code that is not (yet) necessary to understand; required boilerplate code
receiving; getting; eating; drinking; please (give me; do for me)
(home) tutor; private tutor; private teacher
and they all lived happily ever after; having a happy ending; ending without incident
one's view of life; attitude toward life; outlook
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
source of worry; source of distress
value in doing something; feeling that something is worth doing; rewarding feeling; sense of satisfaction
something like ...; something called ...
to not take seriously; to take lightly
insignificant; inconsequential; trifling; negligible; of little importance
to collect (e.g. one's thoughts); to get in order
as soon as ...; just after ...; immediately after ...; hurriedly; in haste; quickly
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
giving something a try because it will not do any harm
dark; gloomy; somber; depressing
reproachful; resentful; spiteful
at the window; by the window; next to the window