precious; valuable; priceless; noble; exalted; sacred
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
wish; dream; prayer; one's desire
civilian clothes; plain clothes; mufti; plainclothes police officer
private property; personal belongings; personal effects
storage; putting or stowing away; receipt (of funds, payment, etc.); harvesting
orderliness; put in order; tidying up; arranging neatly
grumbling; muttering; nonsense
to make a speech; to address
nasty; mean; heartless; inconsiderate; selfish
embrace; hug; holding in one's arms
to impose (a tax, fine, etc.); to levy; to assign (a task, duty, etc.); to give; to set
thin; skinny; delicate; fragile; feeble
no sooner ... than ...; hardly ... when ...; as soon as
quick-witted; quick to understand
to accept; to receive; to agree
to imitate; to copy; to enter someone as a candidate; to press (e.g. a weapon against someone's back); to compare; to liken
great disaster; horrible tragedy; catastrophe; catastrophic event; catastrophic incident; dire calamity
low tone; bass; low voice
to shorten; to reduce; to crumple (fabric); to wrinkle; to make (one's body) smaller; to draw in (one's legs)
paper (in rock-paper-scissors); disappearing completely; coming to nought; foolishness; stupidity
moment by moment; hour by hour
to cross the line; to go too far
to avoid meeting someone's gaze; to not look someone in the eyes
to shake; to jolt; to rock (cradle); to blackmail; to extort; to shake down
tray; family; household; O-Bon; Bon Festival; gambler's den
to melt (and become soft or liquid); to be enchanted (by); to be charmed; to be bewitched
change for the better; improvement; looking better (than before)
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
things depend on how you use them; all things have their uses when they are used in the right way
aging; wearing out; deterioration
going around; patrol; round; tour
new era; new period; new age; new epoch
visit; call; arrival (e.g. of spring); advent; news; tidings
city planning; urban planning; town planning
technological development
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
to persuade someone to consent; to entreat repeatedly; to beg; to implore