foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
no more than; just; only; mere; goes no further than
misunderstanding; mistaken idea; wrong guess
one's true feelings and one's official stance (which may be at odds); one's real motive and one's stated reason
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
where; which; anyway; anyhow; sooner or later; eventually
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
cruel; heartless; violent; intense; very bad; terrible
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
to feel (as if); to have a feeling (that); to have a hunch (that); to feel like doing; to want to do
always; constantly; frequently; often; nonstop
anonymous report; (secret) information; tip-off; informing (against)
so much; so often; oh, yes!; that's it; that's right; quite
to be upset; to lose one's composure; to lose self-control; to put in disorder; to mess up; to disturb
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
when; how soon; how long until
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
don't you think?; indicates question
deep red; crimson; rouge; lipstick
blue; azure; green; green light (traffic); black (horse coat color); blue 5-point card; immature
blue; azure; green; green light (traffic); black (horse coat color); blue 5-point card; immature
to come out (e.g. hair); to fall out; to collapse (e.g. building, floor); to be left out; to be omitted
in a daze; absent-mindedly; dimly; hazily; with a roar (of flames); with a whoosh
to look at; to gaze at; to look out over; to get a view of; to look on (from the sidelines); to stand by and watch
one day; all day (long); throughout the day; first day of the month
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
in one's own way or style
very; greatly; immense; enormous; serious; grave
important; significant; precious; valuable; careful
time; hour; period; class
January; first month of the lunar calendar
almost every day; almost daily
and; and then; thus; and now; and finally
unsatisfying; disappointing; abrupt; not enough; too quick; too short
fair; exhibition; exposition
to open; to undo; to bloom; to unfold; to open (for business, e.g. in the morning); to be wide (gap, etc.); to widen
on the occasion of; circumstances; juncture
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to drop; to lose; to clean off (dirt, makeup, paint, etc.); to remove (e.g. stains or facial hair); to lose (a match); to reject (an applicant); to lower (e.g. shoulders or voice)
unshapely; ill-formed; misshapen; awkward; clumsy
repair; mending; fixing; servicing
look here; I say; well; I know what; I'll tell you what; just a minute
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)