Vocabulary

having a companion makes the journey easier; travel is better with company

float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

to float like a butterfly

may ... be with you; may there be ...

what nonsense; don't be ridiculous; give me a break; stop talking nonsense

just who do you think you are?

may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly

(it) is fine; nice; good; all right

now that you mention it; when you put it that way; come to think of it

Iron Lady (orig. nickname for Margaret Thatcher)

apologies for the crude food

little grey cells (in reference to Hercule Poirot's catchphrase); intellect; brainpower

you're lying!; what a lie!; liar!; yeah, sure

law of nature; natural order

jealousy; envy; jealous contempt

from above

to tower extremely high; to pierce the sky

out of place; awkward; unfitting

willing; ready (to make a sacrifice, die, etc.); not minding

taking one's partner for granted once the relationship is secured; not feeding the fish once caught

to suffer the consequences for interfering in a couple's relationship; to be kicked by a horse

failing under pressure; not performing well under pressure

have to do; must; should; ought to

mountain that yields gold; gold mine

to be resolved; to make up one's mind; to steel oneself; to come to a decision

to come to nothing; to end in failure; to fall through

to maintain one's honor as a man; to save face (as a man); to have one's honor upheld

now that; since; so long as; because

a-bi-ra-un-ken so-wa-ka (mantra directed to Vairocana)

what is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb

looking gentle and beautiful like a bodhisattva on the outside but, being wicked and frightening like a demon on the inside

ecce homo; behold the man

with all due respect, but...; I don't mean to talk back, but...

(living) to the fullest; briefly but colorfully; in the here and now

to return a sake cup

unusual; out of the ordinary; uncharacteristic

to spoil the mood; to dampen the fun; to put a damper on; to throw cold water on

painstaking (e.g. effort); excruciating (e.g. hard work); grueling

to achieve one's ambition; to attain one's goal; to fulfill one's aspiration

attach to make sabaki; contact play for sabaki; sabaki starts with an attachment