to return fire; to shoot back
quite clearly; quite distinctly; perfectly; exactly
to see; to look; to watch
large bird; peng (in Chinese mythology, giant bird said to transform from a fish); fenghuang (Chinese phoenix)
even though it is not; despite not
this; our; the ... in question; right; justice; fairness
at any rate; in any case; at the very least; if nothing else
suddenly; abruptly; unexpectedly
handwriting; calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
head; chief; chairman; governor; top student; head of the class
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
wholeheartedly; single-mindedly; fervently; intently
to put into written form; to communicate or express by writing; to chronicle
written prayer for a shrine or Buddhist temple
to tear; to rip up; to cut up; to cleave; to forcibly separate (e.g. two lovers); to spare (time, money, etc.)
to collect; to gather; to save; to accumulate; to pile up
to read (a text) from start to finish; to transliterate classical Chinese into Japanese
(arch.) I; (arch.) me; (person having) thin or shaved eyebrows; affectionate suffix for names of young men or pets
side gate; side door; service entrance
morning fog; morning mist
space; room; vacancy; opening; free time; time to spare
unfortunately; at a bad time; at an unfortunate moment
last night; the previous night; night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)
for generations; hereditary; generation after generation
villa; another line of work
near; nearby; not far off
kōji; malted rice; malt; malt-like material from growing mold on rice, barley, beans, etc. (used as a starter to make sake, miso, soy sauce, etc.)
Bitchū (former province located in the west of present-day Okayama Prefecture)
happiness; blessedness; luck; luckily; fortunately
bitter tea; low-quality tea
to slurp; to sip (loudly); to sniffle; to sniff
director (of the provincial governors under the ritsuryo system)
paper; note; document; bill
unruly horse; unmanageable horse; unbroken horse
to cut (grass, hair, etc.); to mow; to clip; to trim; to prune; to shear
straight; as the crow flies
front; frontage; facade; main
to settle down; to stay (for good); to stay long; to stay on
to rub on; to rub against; to wipe on; to strike (a match)
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
in prison; in the military
secretly (cheer, pray, etc. for someone); in secret; from the sidelines; at a distance
in good health; alive and well; going strong
wish; hope; petition; intent of a request; purpose of an application; content of a prayer