ray (of light); beam; light
waiting room; anteroom; antechamber; green room
luxurious; magnificent; extravagant; sumptuous
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
strawberry (esp. the garden strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa); 15,000 yen
pie; tart; palmier (pastry)
gloss; luster; mellowness (of a voice); youthfulness (e.g. of skin); interest; appeal
to cut and divide; to cut up; to cut into pieces; to distinguish (e.g. facets of a problem); to isolate
season (for fruit, seafood, etc.); best time of the year (for); in vogue; popular; hot
to stuff one's cheeks; to fill one's mouth (with food)
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
next-door neighbors; (living, sitting) next to each other
single-mother household; fatherless family
to couch (a sword); to look at cynically or ironically; (arch.) to stand ready (to do); (arch.) to adopt a formal attitude
benefactor; patron; person to whom one owes a great deal; person to whom one is (deeply) indebted
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
failure story; horror story
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
to open up (to someone); to become unreserved; to lower one's guard; to become friendly (with); to feel at ease; to take a relaxed attitude (to)
not a word to anyone; keep it secret; mum's the word
so much; so often; oh, yes!; that's it; that's right; quite
persistent; obstinate; tenacious; relentless; insistent; importunate
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
policy; course; plan (of action); magnetic needle
marriage (of a woman); marrying into a husband's family; becoming a bride; wedding; wedding ceremony
good news; happy news; glad tidings
age difference; disparity in age; age gap
unfavourable comparison; unfavorable comparison
to bear a grudge against; to resent; to blame; to curse; to feel bitter towards
let sleeping dogs lie; wake not a sleeping lion; (lit.) the spirit you do not approach will not curse you
haze (esp. in spring); mist; dimness (of sight)
to begin to write; to begin writing; to begin to draw; to begin drawing; to begin painting
blank space; margin; blank canvas
calligraphy (esp. calligraphy not based on Chinese characters)
ornamental writing (esp. initial letters); decorative lettering; fancy script
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
(on the) right track; (on the) right lines
to be reborn; to be reincarnated; to turn over a new leaf; to become a new person; to be reorganized; to be transformed