to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
youngster; neophyte; greenhorn
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
being in love with each other
to be turned inside out; to betray; to double-cross; to break into falsetto; to crack into falsetto
pleasant; delightful; enjoyable; joyful; cheerful; amusing
no matter what; whatever you say; in the end; after all
to be affected; to be influenced; to be concerned with; to have to do with; to stick to (opinions)
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; generally speaking; in any case
barrier; obstacle; difficulty; hurdle; deadlock
breaking through; breakthrough; surmounting; overcoming; exceeding; passing
sincerely; earnestly; repeatedly; over and over; again and again
birth; lineage; identity; background; provenance; origin
to increase (all the more)
to become tense; to become serious; to become sober; sobering; bracing
absolutely; unconditionally; never (with neg. verb)
desire; wish; request; entreaty; prayer; (written) application
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to fulfill (conditions); to meet (requirements)
one day; (on) a certain day
new work; new production; new composition; new creation; new title
cooking; food preparation
seasoning; flavoring; flavouring; condiment
variety of goods; number of articles
monotony; monotone; dullness; monotone; monotonic
food; foodstuff; eating; appetite; meal; portion
wearisome; insipid; dull; irksome; wretched; vain
worthless; insignificant; unimportant; poor; miserable; wretched
senior high school student
wholly; solely; entirely; principally; mostly; chiefly
preliminary arrangements; preparation; spadework; pre-cooking
to wash; to cleanse; to inquire into; to investigate; to purify (one's heart); to lave (e.g. shore)
miso; fermented condiment usu. made from soybeans; innards (from crabs, shrimps, etc.) resembling miso; key (main) point; good part (of something); weakling
yearned for; longed for; missed
soya bean (Glycine max); soybean; soy
seasoning; flavour; flavor
complete devotion (to); total commitment (to); unvarying support (for); unwavering fixation (on); rigid preoccupation (with)
fish sauce (made from fermented salted fish)
extract (of plants, meat, etc.); essence; concentrate; concentrated stock
to use; to make use of; to utilize; to utilise
sauce; Worcestershire sauce
performance; execution; skill; dexterity; tact
to surpass; to outstrip; to excel
original; unique; distinctive; independent; one's own; personal