Vocabulary

mochi containing red bean paste

(something) not coming together (as one had hoped or expected); unfortunate turn of events; unexpected turn; (a) crossbill's beak (which has differently shaped upper and lower parts)

failing in one's duty (e.g. to someone)

to spare oneself (the trouble)

to spare oneself; to spare oneself the trouble

to be relieved of a worry; to get a load off one's chest

feeling restless; feeling uncomfortable

indisputable

inexcusable; unthinkable; unacceptable

nice-looking; seemingly fine; nice-sounding; polite-sounding; plausible (e.g. excuse); glib

God's gift; God's blessing; grace of God; godsend

withered trees and frozen rocks; a person that is hard to approach

withered trees and cold ash; someone who is detached and free of desires; someone who has no vitality

to occur to one; to cross one's mind

to put one's strength into

must (do, be)

without doing

to put in a word for; to second; to support

to receive permission

to make a witty remark; to come out with a bon mot

dull; dreary; sullen; depressed

to be descended from; to be drawn from (the tradition of); to be derived from; to follow the school (tradition) of

may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly

embarrassed; ashamed

to get jealous; to grow horns

to get jealous; to grow horns

to plant oneself; to settle in

eternal slumber; everlasting rest; death

to boil water; to get the bath ready

to dig up lotus roots

to die (of a poet, artist, etc.)

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

to spread money around (e.g. to give, to loan, to invest, etc.)

to avoid; to dodge; to evade

to hone one's blade; to sharpen a sword

being painfully true (e.g. reprimand); making one's ears burn; striking home (e.g. remark)

to be out of focus

to have a bitter experience

inscription on the bathtub of King Tang ("If you can renovate yourself one day, then you can do so every day, and keep doing so day after day.")