Mie prefecture (Kinki area)
position; place of employment
yesterday and today; only recently; just recently; only yesterday
a few years ago; some years back
disliked; hated; tendency; smack (of); distinction; discrimination
Kyoto and vicinity (esp. during Edo period); Kyoto-Osaka region; Kansai region
to discern (e.g. right from wrong); to discriminate; to distinguish; to know (manners, one's place, etc.); to understand; to bear in mind
management; dealing with; course of events; circumstances; end result (usu. bad); outcome
root (of a plant); root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.); root (of all evil, etc.); source; one's true nature
Osaka (city); (arch.) large hill
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
repetitious; long-winded; heavy (taste); (overly) rich; gaudy (colour, design, etc.); loud
to compare; to make a comparison; to compete; to vie
having said that; on the other hand
unconditionally; as a rule
to declare; to assert; to state definitively; to finish saying; to say it all; to finish one's sentence
old friend; familiar face
to divert (e.g. one's mind); to distract; to relieve (e.g. boredom); to conceal (e.g. one's sorrow with a smile); to shift (the conversation)
anywhere; for all time; through thick and thin; come hell or high water; persistently; stubbornly
humanity; empathy; kindness; human nature; common sense; customs and manners
to be to the point; to hit the mark; to be relevant
again (and again); once again; yet again; (there you go) again
point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
though; notwithstanding; although
I don't know about ... but; it may be possible for ... but
intimacy; friendship; familiarity
luxury; extravagance; treat (i.e. at somebody's expense)
coffee shop; tearoom; coffee lounge; coffeehouse; cafe
not worth (getting angry about, etc.)
connection; link; relationship
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
speaking fondly about one's sweetheart (spouse, girlfriend, etc.); going on about one's love affairs
aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
job hunting; job searching
completely; absolutely; (not) at all; (not) a bit; earnestly; intently
timewasting; killing time
to stay at (e.g. hotel); to be docked; to be berthed; to be moored