stake all (on something); play for all or nothing; throwing all into a task
do-or-die game; crucial contest
bowstring; string (of a shamisen, etc.); stringed instrument; chord; hypotenuse
will; testament; one's dying wish; one's last words
to incline toward; to slant; to lurch; to go down (sun); to wane; to sink
to blink (one's eyes) repeatedly
to slay; to cut down (a foe)
practice by repetition; learning by rote
victory or defeat; outcome (of a game, battle, etc.)
full capacity; all one's ability
veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles; hard-bitten; rich in experience; very experienced
to gain in skill; to improve; to get better
to be soaked in; to be flooded; to be submerged; to be immersed in (joy, memories, alcohol, etc.); to give oneself over to; to bask in
to be opposite; to face each other; to confront (an issue); to face
one's normal condition; one's usual state; keynote (esp. shamisen); proper key
from here; from this place
to draw a bow; to oppose; to defy; to disobey one's superiors
kneading; gloss; paste (e.g. bean paste, mustard paste); parading of portable shrines and floats at festivals
thorn; spine; splinter (esp. lodged in one's flesh); hard sharp item (esp. lodged in one's throat, e.g. fish bone); biting words
screaming; squawking; squealing; loud complaining; noisy conversation
swelling; enlargement; becoming fat; hypertrophy
main hall (of a Buddhist temple); main temple
bottom layer; undermost layer; lowest (societal) class; bottom (economic) stratum; lowest caste
escort (e.g. under guard); convoy
meticulous; careful; discreet; scrupulous; prudent
to lessen; to decrease; to diminish
declaration of a state of emergency
official announcement; proclamation; issuance (of an order, ordinance, or warning)
a mere ...; only a ...; insignificant
faint; slight; vague; nebulous; indeterminate; tinge of ...
ghost; apparition; goblin; monster; something unusually large
thinking back now; looking back
near one's knee; (by) one's side; (at) one's hand; place under the protection (of one's parents, etc.); (under) the care (of); territory of a powerful person
extremely healthy; lively; in good spirits
rude person; villain; blackguard; scoundrel; rogue; libertine
pause (in speech, writing, etc.); punctuation; break; end; (place to) stop
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
to get conceited; to become vain; to get stuck up; to get a swollen head; (lit.) to become a tengu
to become the subject of rumours or conversations