cultivation; refinement; culture; education
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
what is to be done?; what should (I) do?; what (am I) to do?
extract; excerpt; selection
pensive (or worried) look on one's face
hum; hmm; hm hm (light chuckle with mouth closed); uh-huh; mm; hmm
to fall behind; to lag behind; to lose (race, contest)
how about ...?; I wonder; I don't know
to close one's eyes; to lower one's eyelids; to shut one's eyes; to die; to breathe one's last
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
to be reminded of; to call to mind
for better or worse; for good and bad; regardless of merit; both good and bad
to go into; to come into; to penetrate; to become complicated
to hesitate to say; to mumble; to hem and haw; to falter
hot (thing); passionate (feelings, etc.); ardent; hot (e.g. temper); zealous; enthusiastic; intense
bona fide third party; bona fide third person
to jar; to creak; to grate
direction; orientation; suited to; suitable for; tendency; inclination
(confronting a problem, etc.) head-on; directly; outright; (lit.) from the front
exactly; precisely; just; as if; as though; quite
brilliant; bright; dazzling
to glitter; to glisten; to sparkle; to twinkle; to glare; to gleam
large; big; older; senior; final; ultimate
under one's eyes; below one's eyes
song lyrics; words of a song; libretto
to be discouraged; to shrink from
fence; paling; railing; (arch.) fortress
(many) trees; every tree; all kinds of trees
to surround; to encircle; to besiege; to lay siege to; to play (go, shogi, etc.)
emergency; extraordinary; unusual
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
passion; enthusiasm; zeal
to chase; to run after; to follow (a set order, a trend, etc.); to drive out; to get rid of; to drive (e.g. a herd)
monologue; soliloquy; talking to oneself