growth; development; one's early life; upbringing; personal history
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
to rub on; to rub against; to wipe on; to lay the blame on
iron grill; iron grille; iron lattice; prison
perpetual youth and longevity; immortality
to curry favour (with); to play up (to); to cozy up (to); to butter up
to work hard at; to devote oneself to; to be diligent in
study; research; investigation
to add (e.g. a postscript)
(kicking and) struggling; wriggling; floundering; to get into a panic; to make a fuss; to make a scene
withdrawal; revocation; repeal; demolition; removal
indeed; really; truly; very much
to get between; to be caught in
to miss one's footing; to be off the right track; to be on the wrong path
to fall forward (of a person); to tumble forward
half the body; half length
ring finger; third finger; fourth finger (in piano-playing); fourth toe
tortoiseshell (of the hawksbill turtle); bekko; tortoiseshell (esp. of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle)
aging; ageing; adding to one's years
to produce; to yield; to cause; to result from; to arise; to be generated
to imitate; to follow; to emulate
brown rat (Rattus norvegicus); common rat; dark grey (colour, color); dark gray; secret evil-doer
cackling (sound of shrill laughter)
calm, cool, and collected; level and calm
to stab; to thrust (into); to plant (in the ground); to stick upright
main cause; primary factor
inverted; upside down; reversed; back to front; wrong way round
muscle; tendon; vein; artery; fiber; fibre; line
immediately; instantly; with nary a pause; without a moment's delay
direction; orientation; suited to; suitable for; tendency; inclination
aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
selfish; egoist; (arch.) self-indulgent; (arch.) wilful; (arch.) willful
paper folded and tucked inside the front of one's kimono (esp. for use at the tea ceremony); paper used for writing tanka
mouse; rat; dark gray; dark grey; slate (color, colour)
comfort; consolation; diversion
brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded
carrying out one's words; being as good as one's word; making good on one's promise
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
to brave a danger; to take a risk