childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
theory; reason; logic; (unreasonable) argument; strained logic; excuse
prejudice; bias; distorted view
to like; to love; to be fond of
high; tall; expensive; high-priced; high (level); above average (in degree, quality, etc.)
isn't it?; don't you think?; right?; surely; come on
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
to be complete; to be all present; to be equal; to be uniform; to gather; to assemble
as you were; return to your original position!; er, rather
to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one's way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
backyard; background; room in a store or restaurant not open to customers (often storage room)
to go by; to go past; to run (between; of a rail service, bus route, etc.); to operate (between); to go indoors; to go into a room; to penetrate
opposite; reverse; contrary
lively; vigorous; sprightly; animated; vivid
to be sufficient; to be enough; to be worth doing; to be worthy of; to do (the job); to serve
to summon; to get used to call
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly
the trouble is that ...; the problem is that ...; unfortunately; annoyingly
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
suddenly; abruptly; deliberately; slowly; gently
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to overlook; to command a view of; to look down on; to despise; to look down on
to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to hear about; to hear of; to follow (advice, order, etc.)
sudden; abrupt; urgent; pressing; steep; sharp; rapid
serious; important; significant; grave; weighty
announcement; publication; presenting; statement; communique; making known
to try and do something; to attempt to do something
to put on airs; to assume importance
now that; since; so long as; because
and then; and so; and; so then
important matter; matter of great importance; serious affair; major incident; emergency
expectation; anticipation; hope; promising; rising; up-and-coming
to rise; to swell; to be promoted
enough; sufficient; plenty; sufficiently; fully; thoroughly
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
cesspool; sink; manure sink
to tell; to inform; to announce; to indicate; to signal; to mark
soon; before long; shortly; close (by); near; nearby