to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
superficial; half-hearted; shallow
low-lying part of a city (usu. containing shops, factories, etc.); Shitamachi (low-lying area of eastern Tokyo near Tokyo Bay, incl. Asakusa, Shitaya, Kanda, Fukugawa, Honjo, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi and surrounds)
boss; leader; kingpin; chief; head (e.g. of a crime syndicate)
marriage proposal; marriage talks
to come fluttering in (e.g. leaves, snow, flowers, etc.); to come dancing in; to drop in unexpectedly; to happen unexpectedly
hectic; topsy-turvy; chaotic
inspector general; commissioner
often; frequently; now and then; occasionally
news; tidings; information; correspondence; letter
to be able to manage somehow or another
counting backwards; calculating backwards; inverse operation; reverse operation
to take candy from a baby; to accomplish something with ease; (lit.) to twist a baby's arm
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
sprout; shoot; bud; germinal disk (in an egg)
to pick; to pluck; to snip; to cut; to nip
(in Chinese mythology) beast which descends from the sky with a thunderbolt
to carry on one's back; to burden oneself (e.g. with debts, responsibilities, etc.)
The End; Finis; completion; conclusion; providing fully
concept; general idea; notion; intention; aim; design
being enthusiastic about; being wild about; being absorbed in; being engrossed in; being devoted to
foreshadowing; preparation; precautionary measures
to use up; to exhaust; to wear out