to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
to cling to; to hold on to; to grapple; to set about doing; to begin; to take hold of
island; one's territory (e.g. of a sex worker, organized crime gang); one's turf
to be hesitant; to feel timid
capital (esp. Kyoto, Japan's former capital); seat of government; capital (of music, fashion, etc.); city (e.g. of light); location of the Imperial Palace
texture (e.g. skin, fabric); grain (e.g. wood); detail
cooking, esp. frying or stir-frying; heating; tempering; -ware
to become possible; to become able to (do)
loudly (flinging open a door); with a clatter; with a crash (e.g. of a falling structure); completely (change); utterly; louvre window (door, vent, etc.)
uncle; old man; mister; manybar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)
workshop; studio; atelier
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
ceramics; pottery; porcelain
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull
that night; that evening; over the course of the evening
hobby; pastime; tastes; preference; liking
to handle; to operate (a machine, etc.); to deal with (an issue); to manage; to treat (someone); to deal with (someone)
errand; mission; messenger; bearer; familiar spirit; use
urgent; pressing; immediate; urgently; promptly; at once
flight (e.g. airline flight); trip (e.g. train trip); mail; post; opportunity; chance
width; breadth; freedom (e.g. of thought); latitude; gap; difference (e.g. in price)
frequently; repeatedly; eagerly; keenly; hard; terribly
quality (of a product or a service)
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
characteristic; feature; idiosyncrasy; spot color (in printing)
potentiality; likelihood; possibility; availability
to bend oneself forward (esp. in curiosity or excitement); to hang out (e.g. over a balcony)
to be talked about; to get a name for oneself; to get publicity
as a test; as an experiment; by way of experiment; by way of trial; tentatively
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
had better ...; may as well ...
to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for
to tailor; to make (clothing); to train; to bring up; to make it seem like; to pass off
to be present (esp. during a birth); to be witness to
to be in time (for); to serve (suit, meet) the purpose; to be good enough; to be enough
light blue; pale blue; aqua
given the situation; now that it has come to this; if it comes to this
absorbed in; immersed in; forgetting oneself; daze; within a dream; while dreaming
to enliven; to liven up; to cause a stir in (e.g. the newspapers); to make prosperous
hateful; detestable; loathsome
great hurry; great haste; rush
cutting (cloth, paper); judgement; judgment; decision
tailoring; dressmaking; sewing; making; preparation
emigration; immigration; emigrant; immigrant