hegemony; leadership; initiative
fight; dispute; feud; competition; contest; rivalry
substance; essence; substantive; substantial; in essence; in effect
to be scattered about; to disperse; to be littered (with)
to be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose
urgent; requiring quick (response)
under-shoulder swing-down; technique of grasping the arm of the opponent, the moment he comes forward, while stepping out of line and pushing down on the shoulder blade with the other hand, thus pulling him down; dodging; parrying (questions); disappointment; letdown
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
as you (they, etc.) say; as you suggest; I absolutely agree
citizen (of a country); citizenry; citizen (of a city); resident; bourgeoisie; middle class
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
unlimited; endless; boundless; infinite
example; instance; precedent; custom; habit
correct answer; right solution; correct interpretation; right decision; right choice; appropriate judgement
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
to pile up; to make a heap; to lay (e.g. bricks); to acquire (e.g. experience); to build (a reputation)
to go smoothly; to turn out well; to do the trick; to have peaceful relations
to take root (of a plant); to strike root; to root; to become established (e.g. of an idea, a movement); to take hold; to take root
several hundred; hundreds (of)
to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations); to affect; to take a toll; to strike home
birth; lineage; identity; background; provenance; origin
leak (of information); leakage (of electricity)
being heard (by others); being overheard; being leaked (of plans, secrets, etc.); going in one ear and out the other
that; the matter in question
very likely; very probable
curiosity; rare item; rarity; rare opportunity which could be beneficial
(in the) palm of someone's hand; (under) someone's complete control; (at) someone's mercy
to get angry; to take offense; to take offence; to be furious
to spend time (on doing something)
last drink (of sake); last glass; last cup
to be brought forward (e.g. by three hours); to be moved up; to be hasty; to be rash; to quicken; to speed up
unusual power; superpower; ability beyond that of humans
(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
outsider; one not included in the favored group; outside daimyo; non-Tokugawa daimyo
(stroke of) luck; (unexpected) good fortune; godsend; windfall
for better or worse; luckily or unluckily
contest; competition; struggle; scramble
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
to hold (in one's hand); to take (into one's hand); to own; to obtain
to have (something) innate; to be born with
to let go of; to release; to part with (e.g. a possession); to relinquish; to send away (e.g. one's child); to let go
to lose; to miss (a chance, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
sticking to (an opinion, theory, belief, etc.); clinging to; adherence; persistence; insistence