soup containing rice cakes and vegetables (New Year's dish)
it's no joke; gimme a break!
then; and then; and; if so; because then; if that's the case
dry riverbed; river beach
embankment; bank; beef sinew stewed in miso and mirin
with energy (of parties and such); enthusiastically; going all out
gushing; overflowing; everlasting; unfailing; endless
to give a broad grin; to smirk
to become angry or sullen; to take offense; to be miffed; to come unstuck from; to peel off; to come off
facing; opposite; across the street; other side
all together now!; one, two, go!; ready, set, go!; heave, ho!; oops-a-daisy
to release; to let go; to free; to add (pieces of eggplant, potato, etc.) to water, broth, etc.
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
in a hurry; hastily; in feverish haste
swaying; swinging; rocking; shaking; wavering; flickering
to swing; to sway; to shake; to waver; to feel shaken; to become unstable
from one's side; from the side (of something); from someone unconnected; from someone uninvolved
to plunder; to grab; to snatch
skillful; adroit; craft; craftsmanship; plot; scheme
to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to have a good command of (a language); to play proficiently (of a musical instrument); to work (a puppet); to pull the strings of a puppet
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
with a chuckle; with a giggle
rapidly; vigorously; by leaps and bounds; steadily
to resound; to be heard far away; to reverberate; to shake; to come (home); to remain (with someone)
eager; earnest; strenuous; fervent; assiduous; with utmost effort
to let fly; to make fly; to skip over; to leave out; to run fast; to drive fast; to spray
to do for (the sake of someone else)
unable to move; dead in the water; completely helpless
great teacher; great master; great author; great doctor
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
wobbling; tottering; wavering (e.g. over a decision); dithering; boiling up; dizzily
frequently; repeatedly; eagerly; keenly; hard; terribly
before I knew it; next thing you know; when I came to
to incline toward; to slant; to lurch; to go down (sun); to wane; to sink
leisurely; slowly; soon; shortly; here and there; scattered
crumpled; rumpled; to be annoyed; to be irritated; noisily (chewing)
to mix; to stir; to scramble; to churn
to run off; to break into a run; to start running
to frolic about; to mess around