background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to make an appearance; to show up
giving up on winning a hand and discarding only safe tiles
benefit; use; good; profit; gains
being brought to a standstill; being stranded; being stumped; being in a dilemma; dying while standing (and remaining standing); dying on one's feet
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
to catch sight of; to see; to suppose; to assume from appearances
to walk about; to walk around; to conduct oneself; to act; to stop by (somewhere; esp. of a criminal on the run); to drop by
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
gazing steadily at; observing (a person) closely; maintain a watch over
to look toward; to have one's eyes drawn towards something
end (e.g. of a line); tail end; rear; backmost part
careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering
making rapid progress; making great advances; rush; dash; onslaught
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
largish; biggish; on the large side; slightly larger; a little larger
emergency meeting; urgent meeting; emergency session; emergency conference
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
attendance; presence; appearance
topic of discussion; agenda
a short while ago; just now; already; for a long time
to jest; to joke; to play the fool; to act indecently; to be silly over
no change; no difference; no unusual events; no accidents; no incidents
company; lot; people; troupe; company (of musicians)
to be hard (to do); to be difficult; to require much effort; to be laborious; to be backbreaking; to have trouble (doing)
bowstring; string (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.); bail (arched pot handle); diagonal levelling wire across the top of a masu
returning alive; surviving; reaching the home plate
cane; walking stick; staff; wand
floating; buoyancy; fishing float; bobber; buoy; lifebuoy
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
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
correction; revision; amendment
underestimation; undervaluation
overestimation; overrating; overvaluing
in the end; at the end of the day
to scurry home; to run home; to fly back
to be renewed; to change; to be improved; to be reformed; to stand on ceremony; to be formal
one country; the whole nation; the whole country; stubborn; obstinate
to be open (to traffic); to lead (to); to flow (of a liquid, current, etc.); to pass (through); to be conveyed (of an intention, meaning, etc.); to be understood (by); to be well versed (in)
regular; normal; formal; legal; established; legitimate
perception; intuition; the sixth sense
acutely (feel); keenly; severely; tightly; hard
interruption; interference; butting in
a little bit; a little while