Vocabulary

don't do anything rash!; keep composed!

titles omitted; (names listed) without honorifics

to distract

to change the subject (e.g. away from something awkward or inconvenient)

to find fault (with); to cavil (at); to carp (about); to complain; to pick holes (in)

cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale); acajou

other than; except for; aside from; apart from; save for

to be talked about behind one's back; to be criticized behind one's back

as a nation; with the whole country

feigning ignorance; acting dumb

to be jealous

in a bad mood

in a good mood; cheerful

to be oversensitive; to be nervous; to be overly concerned; to worry too much

to have one's feet reach the bottom (e.g. when standing in water)

as soon as possible; at the earliest time

to worry (about); to fret (over); to be anxious

to pledge allegiance; to swear an oath of allegiance; to take an oath of allegiance

see Nikko and die; don't say "wonderful" until you've seen Nikko

too many cooks spoil the broth; too many captains will steer the ship up a mountain

wives and tatami mats are best when new

it is easier to do something than worry about it; fear overruns the danger; it is easier to bear (a child) than to worry about it

to admire greatly; to salute (in admiration); to take one's hat off to

to have confidence in one's own abilities

long-lasting; durable; keeping well

good (place to leave off); convenient

close (e.g. in terms of relationship); intimate

popular

pleasant feeling; good feeling

well-bred; of good upbringing

easy to get into (e.g. of music, etc.); easily getting into (a certain mood, etc.)

affable; sociable; friendly

very caring; kind; helpful; service-minded

influential; powerful; popular; prosperous; doing well

unskilled; incompetent; poor; bad

low class; poor quality

ill-bred; poorly brought up

having the luck to escape trouble (your behaviour has landed you in)

difficult to get into

lacking potential for advancement; no-hoper