to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
optimism; taking an optimistic view
front-facing; forward-looking; positive; constructive
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
pessimism; disappointment
to provide; to furnish; to equip; to install
to look down (on); to condescend (to)
at any rate; anyhow; anyway; in any case; because; as you know
Sahel (semiarid region of north-central Africa)
large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryo system)
to do together; to share; to participate in
to make use of aizuchi; to back-channel; to throw in interjections to show that one is paying attention
tight-lipped; able to keep a secret
getting deeply involved; going deeply into; going too far (into something)
to feign friendliness; to play the hypocrite
in the same manner as before; the same as always
regulations; rules; (local) regulation; ordinance; bylaw
minuscule amount; extremely small quantity
to leave home; to leave one's parental roof; to leave the nest; to go out on one's own
Cala (South Africa); Ka-ra; Karla
astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
great laughter; burst of laughter
to have a bad time; to go through a bitter experience; to get into trouble; to get hurt; to suffer
misgovernment; misrule; bad government
national language; Japanese language (often as a school subject in Japan); native Japanese words (as opposed to loanwords)
interference; meddling; butting in
to gain experience; to get accustomed (with something)
clay doll; clay figure; clay figurine
precise; exact; detailed; accurate; minute; close
unconventional; eccentric; offbeat; aberrant; outlandish; crazy
along the road; along the way
one plot (of land); one block (i.e. one city block); one area; one brush stroke; one kanji stroke
far away; far off; far; long ago; long before
next; secondly; subsequently
to speak badly (of); to speak ill (of); to bad-mouth
to be ruined (reduced to poverty); to fall low; to go under; to come to ruin
station; office; guardroom