Vocabulary

to soak; to dip; to steep; to immerse

vinegared dish; pickled dish

to be perfectly clear (water, air, etc.); to clear up

politics; political manoeuvre; political maneuver

tone of voice

to undertake; to take on (task)

union; joining

moderation; self-restraint; temperance

to die out; to peter out; to become extinct

former wife; late wife

religious mission; religious proclamation

undivided attention; concentration

to soak into; to sink into; to seep into; to permeate

to select; to pick out

pig iron

prostate (gland)

purification; refining

pure; genuine; real

early spring; beginning of spring

to copy (down); to transcribe

firm name; trade name

light snow

anecdote

village headman (esp. in the Kansai region)

stature; height

to reheat; to steam over

having great hopes for (someone's future); expecting much of; pinning one's hopes on

meal ticket

back row; rear rank

to make a mistake (in); to commit an error; to do incorrectly; to err

wrong diagnosis; misdiagnosis

operator (e.g. telephone)

marquis; marquess

fair; just and upright; open and honest; aboveboard; honourable

thick board; plank

to hum (a tune); to sing to oneself; to croon

dictation; verbal statement

contrivance; managing (to raise money)

schoolmate; alumnus

hardness; solidity