difficult to ...; hard to ...
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
disaster; accident; calamity; catastrophe
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
and so; therefore; for that reason
cannot bring oneself (to do); unable to bear (e.g. seeing)
(arch.) difference (from one another); (arch.) different thing; (arch.) other; unusual; extraordinary
leaving one's own house (e.g. when going to war); departure; setting out; starting a new life; starting life anew
to find fault (with); to cavil (at); to carp (about); to throw a wet blanket (on); to throw cold water (on); to jinx
(not) in the least; (not) at all; (not) a bit
to sympathize deeply with; to strike a chord of sympathy
birth; lineage; identity; background; provenance; origin
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question; to interrogate; to grill (someone about a matter); to question in detail
strict (e.g. security); heavy (e.g. guard); showy; pretentious; impressive; imposing
recitation (of Japanese or Chinese poem)
man; male; masculine gender
clear; sonorous; full-sounding; resonant; bright
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
phala (attained state, result); enlightenment (as the fruits of one's Buddhist practice); fruit; counter for pieces of fruit
having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored
grounding (in a skill or subject); knowledge; training; achievements; attainments; accomplishments
lifeboat; friend in need; helping hand; timely help
awkward; uncomfortable; embarrassing
to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for; to cover (a shortage, loss, etc.); to fill (e.g. a vacancy)
accompanying; being accompanied by; going with
lightweight fabric or clothing; silk gauze; thin silk; Latin (language)
cheerful; merry; sunny; bright (sky, day, etc.); fine; clear
son (of others); boy; young master; green young man from a well-to-do family; young man innocent of the ways of the world
The Tale of the Heike; Heike Monogatari
to nod; to bow one's head in assent; to agree
you've hit the nail on the head; that's just what I thought; that's exactly like I feel; that's exactly what I think, too
(one's) identity; background; upbringing; (one's) character
bamboo growing along a river bank; Japanese timber bamboo (Phyllostachys bambsoides); giant timber bamboo; Simon bamboo (Pleioblastus simonii); (arch.) prostitute; (arch.) the life of a prostitute
(arch.) dancing girl (end of the Heian period); prostitute; tempo in gagaku
entering the priesthood; priest; man with a shaven head; bald-headed monster
heading; headline; index; headword
Grand Minister; Chancellor of the Realm
throne; crown; government position; court rank; social standing; rank; grade (of quality, etc.)