to ascertain; to check; to make sure
cooking; cookery; cuisine; dealing with something; handling; administration
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
training; education; stocking up; laying in; preparation (e.g. ingredients); girl studying to become a geisha
to be palatable; to suit one's taste
anxiety; uneasiness; worry; apprehension; fear; insecurity
no!; no no!; no, not at all
to come together; to merge; to fit; to match; to be profitable; to be equitable
to turn up; to roll up (e.g. sleeves); to do over and over again; to do relentlessly; to stage a comeback (against) (in mahjong, horse racing, etc.); to come from behind
hand; arm; forepaw; foreleg; handle; hand; worker
spare time; free time; time (e.g. time it takes to do something); time off; day off; quitting (one's job); firing someone
regrettable; disappointing; precious; dear; too good for; deserving better
to advance; to go forward; to precede; to go ahead (of); to make progress; to improve; to deepen
to; for; from the standpoint of; as far as ... is concerned
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
one; for one thing; only; (not) even; just (e.g. "just try it"); some kind of; one type of
mumbling; chewing one's words; chewing (food); squirming; wriggling
absorbed in; immersed in; forgetting oneself; daze; within a dream; while dreaming
(not) ever; (not) by any means; (not) in the least; (not) in any way; (not) at all
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that...
Western cooking; Western-style meal; Western-style food; Japanized Western cuisine
satisfaction; pride; one's strong point; one's forte; regular customer; regular client
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
remainder; remnant; (not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
it's precisely for that reason that ...; which is precisely why ...
sum; harmony; peace; Japan; Japanese-style
impact (on); (strong) impression; effect; impact (of a ball against a racket, bat, club, etc.)
sacred precincts; sanctuary; consecrated ground; issue that is regarded as being off-limits; matter that is not up for discussion
one's own convenience; one's way; surroundings; environment; convenience; ease of use; financial circumstances
to touch; to feel; to get involved (with); to approach; to be harmful to; to hinder
until now; so far; up to the present
to get in; to go in; to come in; to flow into; to set; to set in
to talk; to chat; to chatter
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
mess; spoiled; spoilt; (come to) nothing; ruin
being good at cooking; good cook
busy; occupied; hectic; restless; hurried; fidgety
to behave like a spoiled child; to fawn on; to take advantage of; to presume upon (e.g. another's benevolence); to depend on
unreasonable; unnatural; impossible; forcible; forced; excessive (work, etc.); immoderate
study; diligence; discount; reduction