poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at); not one's cup of tea; not one's favorite
imperial court; royal court
to excel at; to be proficient at; to grow old; to ripen; to rise high (e.g. the sun)
person; character; one's character; one's personality; able person; talented person
student (esp. a university student)
to be manageable; to be able to handle
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
besides; in addition; also; moreover
that is so; that is right; it looks to me; people say that; it is said that; I hear that
I'm sorry; my apologies; may I come in?; permission; leave; dismissal
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
no; nay; well; er; you're welcome; not at all
(physical) appearance (of a person); one's face and figure
robust; brawny; muscular; strong; sturdy
now; the present time; just now; another; more
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming
as expected; sure enough; after all (is said and done); in the end; too; also
hobby; pastime; tastes; preference; liking
funny; amusing; strange; odd; improper; unsuitable
softly; gently; stealthily; secretly; to leave alone; to leave as it is
to clasp; to grasp; to hold (the answer); to have (e.g. the solution); to seize (power); to hold (the reins)
to each his own; people differ; different people (have different likes)
than; from; out of; except; but; more
to understand; to comprehend; to become clear; to be known; I know!; I think so too!
bang; bam; noontime signal gun (carried out early Meiji to Taishō); noon gun; last round in a game of 12 rounds; precisely
most; highest; maximum; best; wonderful; finest
the same generation; coeval
to be very far apart from; to be remote; to be quite different from
self-consciousness; self-awareness
un-Japanese in appearance or character
as a child; when one was a child
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
man; male; fellow; guy; male lover; boyfriend
disliked; hated; tendency; smack (of); distinction; discrimination
to comfort; to console; to amuse
to rebuke strongly; to tell off