I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
now; soon; already; yet; further; more
eldest son (may be the only son); first-born son
tray; family; household; O-Bon; Bon Festival; gambler's den
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
to draw a conclusion; to conclude; to settle on
abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling); depressed; slow; sluggish; important (position, responsibility, etc.)
to have a talk; to tell a story
to be bewildered; to be perplexed
so; accordingly; now; then; thereupon; therefore
to put on weight; to gain weight; to grow fat; to get stout
moustache; beard; whiskers (on a cat, etc.); feelers (on an insect, etc.); shadow (on a candlestick chart)
explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend
rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion; habit; custom
(someone else's) child; child; kid
test; trial; probation; ordeal; tribulation
so; like that; that's right; indeed; let me see...
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
to be (animate); to be; to be ..ing; to (have the audacity to) do
danger; peril; hazard; risk
place; location; room; space; basho; wrestling tournament
to go through; to pass through; to struggle through; to get through (difficulties, danger, etc.); to escape (through the cordon)
deepest part; deepest portion; depths (of the ocean etc.); innermost
to take home; to carry home; to bring back home; to take out (e.g. food)
next; following; subsequent; stage; station
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
to be seen; to be in sight; to look; to seem; to come
for; for the sake of; to one's advantage; because of; as a result of
eldest daughter; first-born daughter
competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
enforcement; implementation; putting into practice; carrying out; operation; working (e.g. working parameters)
to stroke; to caress; to brush gently; to comb (hair); to smooth down
method; manner; appearance; air; tendency; folk song (genre of the Shi Jing)
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen