or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it,...; I mean
snugly; cosily; carefree; easily; freshly made and still warm; imprudently
soba noodles eaten at night on New Year's Eve
(nearly certain) death; extremely dangerous place (or situation) from which one might not return alive; proper place to die; dilemma; predicament
readiness to die; (in the) face of death
to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to
horrible; deadly; punishing; murderous
to sniff out; to get wind of
to assign; to allot; to divide among; to distribute; to prorate; to assess
law; rule; regulation; destiny; fate; karma
unexpected meeting; coincidence
to seize (someone) by the collar; to grab (someone) by the scruff of the neck; to collar (someone)
the year end; end of the year; last days of the year
double; twice (as much); times (as much); -fold; 1-nth; 1 to n
major cleanup; spring cleaning
impediment; burden; encumbrance; hindrance; drag
lodging; inn; house; home; home of a servant's parents (or guarantor, etc.)
precisely; exactly; plumb; damn; stupid; cursed
suspension; interruption; stoppage; tie-up; cessation
somersault; returning from a destination right after arriving there; non-stop round trip; abrupt change of direction
to be away from home; to be out of the house
sleeping outdoors; sleeping out in the open air; camping
on the road; on the street; in the street; on the way
staying the night; lodging (at)
guidance; protective custody
to recommend; to endorse (e.g. a candidate); to infer (from); to deduce; to think (something) through; to ponder deeply
smallness; small item; short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days); elementary school; smaller (of two things, places, etc. with the same name); inferior; younger (of two people with the same name)
eating the first meal of soft rice (himeii) after the traditional hard rice of New Year (kowaii); first intercourse of the New Year; loss of virginity; loss of maidenhead
next (e.g. "next April"); forthcoming; coming; to come; to arrive; to be due to
staying somewhere else (overnight); spending the night away (e.g. from home); going home (e.g. from hospital) for the night; sleepover
easy to get on with; not needing reserve or formality; personable; affable; approachable
light eating; spare diet; not eating much
calm, cool, and collected; level and calm
inarticulate; clumsy with words; poor at speaking
to fall ill; to suffer from (e.g. a disease); to have something wrong with (e.g. an inner organ)
house hunting; searching an entire house; searching a house thoroughly
visiting a shrine on New Year's Eve and staying there until (or returning on) New Year's Day
switching over to; migration; transition
back off!; leave me alone!