to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to dabble in; to have a smattering of
mostly; nearly; practically; well-nigh; almost invariably; all but
graduation ceremony; commencement
proximity; nearness; soon; nearby
March; third month of the lunar calendar
middle; halfway; half (of); one half; half (e.g. done, jokingly); partly
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
cold; chill; cold weather; cold wave; cold air
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post)
first; foremost; most important; best; greatest; above all
deadline; closing; cofferdam; closed (door, window, etc.)
postbox; mailbox; post; position; post (e.g. goalpost); post- (e.g. post-Cold War)
to come to like; to become fond of; to fall in love
to lose; to miss (a change, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
until then; till then; to that extent; the end of it; all there is to it
(just) making sure; just to be sure; just in case; for caution's sake
inside out; upside down; flip side; opposite; contrary
but then; although; though; reasonable; natural; just
to waver in one's resolution
good; excellent; fine; nice; pleasant; agreeable
to take; to carry (something) away; to bear
until something reaches the very limit; until the very last minute; up to the breaking point
lie; fib; mistake; error; unwise move; bad decision
entry (in a form, register, diary, etc.); filling in; filling out
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
(not) anywhere; nowhere; everywhere; anywhere
to be found; to be discovered
to take away; to carry away
finally; after great pains; at last; just barely
to squeeze out; to wring out
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to pick up; to find; to gather
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops
to step aside; to move (i.e. out of the way); to make way
to notice; to become aware; to be scrupulous; to be attentive; to recover consciousness; to come to oneself
to begin to run; to start running; to break into a run