housework; domestic chores; family affairs; household matters
stray sheep; lost lamb; (fig.) person at a loss for what to do
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
taking up a new line of work; the beginning of things; starting the preparations for New Year's festivities (December 8 in Tokyo, December 13 in Kyoto); resuming work after the New Year's vacation
taking one's lover to a hotel
school hours; hours of teaching (instruction)
sparse; thin; scattered; straggling; sporadic
one copy (of a book, magazine, etc.); one volume
to be settled; to be brought to an end
it doesn't matter what; anything is fine
to become frightened; to be frightened (of); to be scared (of)
intangible; incorporeal; by force; outrageous; making light of; making fun of
to pluck; to pick; to tear
all the time; every single time; thank you (for your continued patronage)
wordly things; common customs; the world; the (common) people; secularity
noise (usu. unpleasant); interference (e.g. radio); static; gossip; irresponsible criticism
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
(judo) foot technique; footwork
security for a loan; collateral
honorific; term of respect; polite expression; honorific language
occupation; profession; job; vocation; trade; calling
swiftly; rapidly; suddenly; abruptly; sharply (of a slope, bend, etc.); steeply
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
to duck one's head; to pull in one's head; to duck down; to shrug one's shoulders
of late; lately; this part; this point; here
immediately; instantly; with nary a pause; without a moment's delay
refutation; rebuttal; retort
as a matter of fact; really; truly; entirely; completely; wholly
in search of; in order to look for
closing (for the day; of a library, museum, cinema, etc.); closing down (of a library, museum, cinema, etc.)
reserving (for exclusive use); (full) booking; chartering; block reservation
to feel under pressure; to feel impatient; to be in a hurry
cluster of trees; grove; thicket