even at the best of times; already; (even) under normal circumstances; in addition to; as it is
congestion; crush; crowding; confusion; disorder
beforehand; in advance; previously
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
one meal; one meal (a day)
restaurant (esp. Western-style)
normal-sized portion; normal serving
large serving; large portion
(not so) much; (not) very
calculation; estimation; computation
inadvertently; for no special reason; truthfully; unexpectedly; after realizing; without knowing
to search about for; to hunt around for; to look high and low for; to look everywhere for
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of one's arrival); invitation
connivance; tacit consent; toleration; acquiescence
memories; recollections; reminiscence
no problem; all right; not an issue; unobjectionable
open; unconcealed; undisguised; broad; lewd; indecent
desirable prey; easy game; easy mark; easy prey; easy target
free range breeding; pasturing; grazing; letting run free (dog, child, etc.)
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
to bark; to howl; to howl (e.g. of the wind); to roar; to yell; to cry
duck; easy mark; sucker; sitting duck
hunting; harvesting (e.g. berries, fruit); picking; gathering
to not understand what somebody is getting at; to not understand what is being talked about
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
to set aside; to keep in reserve; to hold on to
Japanese, Chinese and Western (e.g. when referring to food styles available, etc.)
bowl of rice with food on top
in a sense; in some way; to an extent
to glare at; to scowl at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully; to estimate; to guess
oyakodon; chicken and egg on rice; threesome including a mother and her daughter
saving a seat (e.g. by leaving something on it); holding a seat (for a friend, etc.); reserving a place
rich (taste); full-bodied (flavour, flavor); mellow; laid-back (lifestyle); relaxed; comfortable
to slurp; to sip (loudly); to sniffle; to sniff
sudden; abrupt; unexpected; unforeseen
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
curious; strange; unusual
to be delighted; to be glad; to congratulate; to gratefully accept
inconvenience; inexpediency; unhandiness