scouring; degumming; training; refining; refinement
three stars (shape); three stars (rating); Orion's belt; Chinese "Three Stars" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
exerting care; attention; consideration; thoughtfulness
four and a half tatami mats; four-and-a-half-mat room; small room esp. for assignations
snugly; neatly; compactly; cosily
mental fatigue; worry; boredom
robber; mugger; robbery; burglary
to wear glasses; to put on glasses
attendant; person who looks after one's needs; caretaker
unexpectedly; surprisingly
to a surprising degree; to a remarkable extent; surprisingly; astonishingly; amazingly; alarmingly
company secret; industrial secret; trade secret
a considerable number; a fair number
to take measures; to work out a plan; to lecture; to read aloud; to confer
to feel a chill run down one's spine
promise; vow; engagement; convention; rule; resolution
to wind; to coil; to envelope; to shroud; to outflank; to skirt
hornworm (caterpillar of a hawk moth); (hairless) caterpillar
to be wrapped up (e.g. in a blanket); to cover oneself
to be lifted up; to be hung up; to twitch upwards; to turn upward; to slant upward
forcing; enforcement; forced; enforced
advice (to a superior); counsel; proposal; suggestion; recommendation
slight bow (as a greeting or sign of gratitude); nod; salutation; consideration; thoughtfulness
to see through; to see the true nature of something
thickness; profundity; depth
to devise an elaborate plan; to exercise one's ingenuity; to work out a scheme
since long ago; already; for quite a while; for some time now
to repent; to regret; to be sorry; to rue
(stare or glare with) scornful eyes; reproachful eyes; disgusted eyes
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
failed creative work; flop; dud; bomb
unsold items; leftovers; remainders; spinster; old maid
to wind around; to wrap around; to coil around
being somewhat (half) joking; half seriously; half in jest; in a jocular vein
packing; crating; packaging
armpit; under one's arm; beside; close to; aside; to the side; off-track
to weave within (hair, fabric, etc.); to braid