diligence in studying (e.g. continuing to study even in such poor light as offered by a firefly or that reflected by snow); diligent study
cutting a person down (without a second thought); sacrificing; throwing to the wolves; omission; rounding down (e.g. fractions); truncation
tally; check; piece of wood or paper split in half and given to each party as a form of proof (e.g. of a transaction)
it's probably so; it stands to reason
to go to; to visit; to call on
distress; anguish; mental suffering
oppression; tyranny; despotism
ronin; masterless samurai
China under the Qing dynasty; Qing China; Qing dynasty
to own; to receive; to understand
one's own property; possessions
pains; efforts; trouble; labor; labour; services
duplicity; treachery; double-dealing
excellent plan; best policy
ruffian; villain; peculiar person; idiosyncratic person; tricky thing; something that is more than it seems
depending on the answer; hinging on the reply
prison guard; jailer; gaoler
paying an unannounced visit; rudeness
to fill one's own pocket by taking advantage of a position
to be cold (to); to ignore (someone)
house-sitting; house-sitter; caretaker or keeper (official post in the Edo period)
to barricade oneself in; to hold (a fort, etc.); to shut oneself up; to be besieged; to dig in
to settle; to finish; to bring to an end
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
this occasion; at this time; now
government service; entering government service; (of a ronin) finding a new lord or master to serve
whitewashing; glossing over; lip service; deftly finishing up; putting on the final touches
extreme; excessive; terrible; intense; severe; serious
the Dragon (fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Dragon (around 8am, 7-9am, or 8-10am); east-southeast; third month of the lunar calendar
agreement; stipulation; contract
to disrupt; to ruin; to hinder; to thwart
one party; one faction; one clique