Vocabulary

fools use people to pick up things lying at their own feet; stupidity of using people for small things

only a fool with no manners asks for another helping more than once; only fools are gluttons

an idiot will swallow anything; an idiot will believe anything they hear; fools act without thinking

to (an extent); up to; so far as; even

probably good; fine, isn't it?; very well

Boys' Day celebration (May 5)

to become very angry; to become furious; to fly into a rage

a day in life is better than a thousand days in the afterlife; better one day in this world than a thousand in the next

from now on; in the future; further

treetop; tip of a branch

straight (from one place to another); going right onto; on the way; simultaneously; incidentally; directly

condemn the offense, but not the offender; detest the sin, but weep for the sinner

only natural; no wonder; as expected; of course; as it should be

to bare one's fangs; to snarl (at)

to be in a different genre; to belong to a different category

if a cat washes its ears, rain is coming

if a cat washes its face, rain is coming

if the kids make a racket outside, there will be rain

Act on Labor Relationship of Specified Independent Administrative Agency, etc. (2002)

spoiling someone's work; useless effort; labouring in vain; if a peasant sows seeds, the crows will dig them up

one becomes sleepy when one's stomach is full; full stomach, sleepy head; when the skin of the belly is extended, the skin of the eyes droops

match made in heaven; perfect match; great coupling; sparrow and bamboo (a common motif in poetry and classical Japanese painting)

wasting one's efforts; rendering one's efforts futile

crumpled up (of a face; like the face of a Japanese spaniel while it's sneezing)

LOL; haha

the pot calling the kettle black; people who live in glass houses throwing stones; a monkey's laughter at (another monkey's) buttocks

gold letters; letters written in gold paint

to be conspicuous; to stand out

to ignore (a fault, misstep, issue, etc.); to disregard; to overlook; to pass over; to let go unquestioned

that night; that evening

absolutely unforgivable; completely inexcusable

like it!

sandcastle; sand castle

(it was) no bother at all; not at all; it was nothing

to trip (over one's own feet); to stumble

elaborately designed

to relieve one's fatigue (e.g. by resting)

mesh of a tatami mat; distance between stitches in a tatami mat

the dreaded 3rd week (in the life of a newborn; when some previously quiet babies suddenly turn colic)

net zero; greenhouse gas emission neutral