reality; actuality; hard fact
Heike family; Taira family; The Tale of the Heike; chanting of the Heike Monogatari
new moon; first day of the lunar month; (in ancient China) next year's calendar and decrees (distributed by the Emperor at year's end)
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind
wasteland; wilderness; deserted land; prairie; vast plain; wilds
blood spilt from the body; blood circulating within the body (often as a metaphor for strong emotion or hot-bloodedness)
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
to tower; to rise; to soar
tide; current; sea water; opportunity; chance; thin soup of fish or shellfish boiled in seawater
tide; current; sea water; thin soup of fish or shellfish boiled in seawater
slip-up; mistake; fault; (arch.) waste; (arch.) needless expense
one building (hall, temple, shrine, room); same room; same place; same building
to meet; to assemble; to gather; to encounter; to run into
else; in addition; on top of that; furthermore; further; besides
study; diligence; discount; reduction
tying up; restraint; restriction; arrest
one copy (of a book, magazine, etc.); one volume
walking briskly; determinedly
to enter; to go into; to break into; to join; to enroll; to contain; to hold
to be dark; to be dull; to be unassuming; to be inconspicuous; to not stand out
quality collar for an under kimono
contrast; antithesis; comparison
number (in a series); (one's) turn; watch; guard; rank; standing; bout
to open; to undo; to bloom; to unfold; to open (for business, e.g. in the morning); to be wide (gap, etc.); to widen
irresponsible; perfunctory; lukewarm; half-baked; reasonable; moderate
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
willingness (e.g. to do something); eagerness; motivation; inspiration; determination; high aspirations
that is so; that is right; it looks to me; people say that; it is said that; I hear that
disliked; hated; tendency; smack (of); distinction; discrimination
even if; even though; however; no matter how
to be curious; to wonder; to marvel
indicates reason or excuse; indicates dissatisfaction; indicates desire to be pampered or indulged
period of youth; while young
direct unforked road; straight path
to jostle; to crowd; to haggle
to stop; to quit; to put an end to
poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful