the (one's) best pupil; the (one's) top disciple
accurate; correct; precise; exact
topic; subject; rumor; talk; tale; story
as it is; as one likes; because; condition; state
flavor; flavour; charm; appeal; experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
certain; sure; doubtless; I have no doubt; You can depend on it; It's a safe bet
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
to think too much; to be over-concerned
to find oneself in deep trouble; to be deep in the shit
one o'clock; once; at one time; for a time; for a while; a time
udon; thick Japanese wheat noodles
approximately; about; to (about) the extent that; (almost) enough that; as ... as ...; like
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
change; metamorphosis; transformation
to load (a gun, etc.); to charge; to put into (e.g. emotion, effort); to include (e.g. tax in a sales price); to hang over; to shroud
though; notwithstanding; although
branch (of a river); tributary; branch; offshoot; something not mainstream
to place (in relation to the whole); to rank; to position; to locate
face; visage; look; expression; honor; honour
(eating) noisily; (chewing) with an open mouth; crumpled; creased; messy; disorderly
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
head; hair (on one's head); mind; brains; leader; chief; top
yes; yeah; huh?; what?; not; 's
righteous government; just rule; easy method; simple approach; orthodox way; proper way
is not; am not; are not; isn't it?
is that so? (generally rhetorical)
chic; smart; understanding; considerate; familiar with worldly pleasures (esp. sexual relations, geisha districts and red-light districts)
haori (Japanese formal coat)
to put clothes on (someone); to dress; to cover; to coat; to pin (e.g. a crime on someone); to lay (blame)
town; block; street; road; 109.09 m; 0.99 hectares
young man; youth; lad; servant boy; young shopboy
to be beside oneself; to lose one's head; to go mad with something
chest; breast; breasts; bosom; heart; lungs; stomach
to beat fast (of one's heart); to flutter (with joy, anticipation, etc.); to throb; to pound; to palpitate
to be raised (e.g. child); to be brought up; to grow (up)
honest; frank; candid; honestly; frankly
fashion; way; school (of thought); class; rank; current (electrical, water, etc.)
(one's) figure; build; physique; style