softly; mildly; gently; politely
lifeboat; friend in need; helping hand; timely help
simple; artless; naive; unsophisticated
log; dace (Tribolodon hakonensis)
spy working for the Edo shogunate; oniwaban
television program; TV program
to raise one's hand; to surrender; to raise one's hand to someone (as a threat to strike); to become better (at something); to improve; to throw one's hat in the ring
fancy restaurant; expensive restaurant
reserve; spare; treasured; valued; (ace) up one's sleeve; trump
under investigation; under consideration; under review; pending (decision, etc.); awaiting verification
cultivation; refinement; culture; education
tea party; get-together; tea ceremony
to act as a go-between (for); to mediate; to arrange; to entertain (guests); to treat; to receive
bog; marsh; swamp; quandary; dire situation from which one cannot extricate oneself; imbroglio
keeping house; being confined to one's house
to be at a loss; to be puzzled
appetizer; starter; hors d'oeuvre
(lit.) to carry a bomb; to have a bomb about to go off; to have an imminent problem; to be in danger of relapse
amorous rumour (rumor); romantic gossip
foster sibling; foster brother; foster sister
thickheaded; obstinate; inflexible; stubborn
story; tale; legend; plot; storyline
with a view to marriage; with marriage in mind
poverty; destitution; privation; indigence; penury
ardent; passionate; vehement
solely; entirely; only; or
paying to get someone (esp. a geisha, prostitute, etc.) out of bondage
dramatic turn-around; major reversal; great comeback; game changer
animal passions; carnal desire; lust
frank; candid; frankfurter; frank
exactly; surely; right then; just then; just (about to); on the verge (of doing or happening)
family tradition; (arch.) wind blowing from the direction of one's home
behaving outrageously as though there were no one around; acting without consideration for others; arrogance; audacity; insolence
maintenance of public order; maintaining security
citizen; resident; person; user (of a website, esp. as a collective, e.g. Twittersphere)
foundation; basis; bedrock; substrate (circuit board)
occupation (e.g. of territory); exclusive possession
summoning; calling; riding; (high-quality) silk crepe (fabric)
for more details ...; for further information ...
to extort (money); to blackmail
suspension (from work or school)