to improve upon; to make improvements to; to refine
neighbourhood; neighborhood
reappearance; reemergence; return; reproduction; reenactment; recreation
older sister; elder sister
being good at cooking; good cook
to look happy; to look pleased; to make eyes at (someone); to ogle
shock (psychological); crisis (esp. financial); event that rattles the markets; shock (physical, mechanical); shock (e.g. due to lack of blood flow); trauma
udon; thick Japanese wheat noodles
it was, wasn't it?; must have been; I think (it was); how might it have been?
subtle seasoning that brings out the flavor; secret ingredient
to boil (something in hot water); to treat with medicinal steam (a swelling, etc.)
salt and pepper; seasoning with salt and pepper
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
tuber; taro; yokel; bumpkin; dud; worthless thing
to steam (food, towel, etc.); to be hot and humid; to be sultry
leader; reader; reading book; reader (i.e. someone who reads); microreader; dotted line (in printing)
therefore; consequently; accordingly; for that reason
going to and fro; back and forth
freely; at liberty; at will; as one likes
scoundrel; rascal; villain
smallness; small item; short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days); elementary school; smaller (of two things, places, etc. with the same name); inferior; younger (of two people with the same name)
craft; cunning; guile; serpentine wisdom
to catch sight of; to see; to suppose; to assume from appearances
someone else's hands; someone else's possession; hand (worker); aide; labor; labour
great difference; big difference; wide margin
to become familiar with; to fit in; to adapt oneself; to get used to; to grow accustomed to
style; manner; way; after (period of time) again (e.g. meeting again after a year); for the first time in (period of time)
to dish up; to arrange food (on a plate)
bowl; vessel; container; ability; capacity; calibre
full of ingredients; hearty; substantial
one way or the other; either way
(political) power; authority; influence
financial power; financial means; wealth
equipment; facilities; installation; accommodations; conveniences; arrangements
to walk with; to make someone tag along; to carry around (esp. a child); to carry about
training; practice; discipline; ascetic practices
devastating; gut-wrenching; shocking; startling; sensational; astounding
discipline; training; teaching manners
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
flavour; flavor; taste; charm; appeal; interest
light (color, colour, taste); simple; plain; frank; candid; ingenuous