before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
flour; meal; powder; heroin
medium (size); average (grade, level, etc.); in; within; during; while; currently (doing)
amusement; entertainment; recreation; pleasure; pastime; hobby
at hand; on hand; way of moving one's arms; skill; money at hand; pocket money
game console; games console; video game console; game machine; gaming device; gaming system
television; TV; TV program; TV programme; TV broadcast
toy; (person or thing treated as a) plaything
the law of the jungle; the strong prey on the weak; the weak become the victim of the strong
to live (on, by, etc.); to lead a life; to make a living; to earn a livelihood; to spend one's time (doing); to pass one's days (doing)
space; room; unused land; room (for reconsideration, doubt, etc.); leeway; margin
to tear off; to strip off; to rip off; to rob (someone) of (clothes); to divest (someone) of (powers, rank, etc.)
counter for books; volume
book; document; calligraphy (esp. Chinese); penmanship; handwriting; letter
ecology; life and habits (of an animal); mode of life; way of living
to write down; to note down; to mention; to describe; to inscribe; to mark
practical guide; manual; how-to book
to read; to recite (e.g. a sutra); to chant; to predict; to guess; to pronounce; to read (e.g. a kanji)
to enjoy; to take pleasure in; to have a good time; to look forward to
pleasant; agreeable; comfortable; refreshing
theatre; theater; playhouse
art; craft; accomplishment; artistic skill; technique; performance
upper class; upper echelons of society; the rich and powerful; the elite
(wandering) minstrel; troubadour
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
shopping; purchased goods
common people; ordinary people; masses
general; popular; common; typical
representative; exemplary; model
outdoors; outside; open air; fields; outskirts; suburbs
nest; rookery; den; haunt; (spider's) web
to collect the ashes of the deceased; to look after someone's affairs after he dies
(musical) instrumentalist
to give (an example); to list; to summon up (e.g. all of one's energy); to gather; to arrest (a criminal); to capture; to nominate (e.g. for a position)
to sing; to sing of (love, beauty, etc.) in a poem; to express in the form of a poem; to recite (a poem)
coin toss; coin flip; toss of a coin
to wager; to bet; to risk; to stake; to gamble