country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
dignity; majesty; solemnity; gravity
average; medium; mid-grade (item); regular grade; same level as; equal to
one's last moments; (on) the point of death; (on) one's deathbed
to not match well (e.g. at the seams); to not mesh properly (of gears); to differ (e.g. of opinions); to clash; to be in conflict (e.g. with the facts)
scraps of seaweed; death at sea (metaphor)
to be stubborn; to be obstinate; to be perverse; to not give in
never (even in error); never, ever; never, no matter what happens; by no means
counter for ships (large boats); counter for half of a pair (e.g. half of a folding screen); counter for fish, birds, arrows, etc.
please!; I'm asking you; for heaven's sake
to flush out (game, etc.); to drive (animals); to beat; to urge; to spur on; to push on
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)
phoenix (esp. fenghuang, the Chinese phoenix)
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger (on two-way radio)
helmet (of a warrior); headpiece
holding out for a short while; putting up resistance for a while; briefly holding one's own
one by one; one after another; successively
most likely contender; prime candidate; top prospect; leading candidate
papier mâché; something that looks good superficially
prudence; judgement; sense; discipline; care; control
to joke around; to do and say ridiculous things
fishing; angling; change (for a purchase); clickbaiting; trolling; writing deliberately inflammatory posts online
meteor swarm; meteor shower
slowness; inertness; inability; lack of talent; dullness
green youth; immature youth; novice; greenhorn
to invite; to ask (someone to do); to tempt; to lure; to induce (tears, laughter, sleepiness, etc.); to arouse (e.g. sympathy)
panel; wainscoting; wainscotting; plight; fix; bind
dawn; daybreak; event (e.g. "in the event of ..."); occasion; occurrence
just kidding; not!; ersatz; imitation; phony
dot; spot; mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; point (in a game); score; point (in geometry)
(clenched) fist; knuckles
anyone; anybody; everyone; everybody; whoever
to entrust (a matter) to; to leave to; to abandon oneself to (e.g. pleasure); to yield to (e.g. anger); to devote oneself to
pachinko; mechanical gambling game superficially resembling pinball; slingshot; catapult; pistol
(one's) older brother; young man; sonny; lad