futility; waste; uselessness; pointlessness; idleness
struggling; pawing (e.g. horses' hooves)
now (while the time is ripe); while one still can
to tie; to bind; to fasten; to restrict (freedom); to tie down (with rules, regulations, etc.); to fetter
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to (enter and) sit down; to plop oneself down; to plant oneself down; to sit down (and refuse to move); to sit in (in protest)
blue; azure; green; green light (traffic); black (horse coat color); blue 5-point card; immature
colour; color; complexion; skin colour; look (on one's face); expression; appearance
to overlook; to command a view of; to look down on; to despise; to look down on
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
daughter; girl (i.e. a young, unmarried woman)
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
to rescue (someone); to save; to help (out of a difficulty); to save (spiritually); to redeem (from sin); to deliver (from suffering, distress, etc.)
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
cross-examination; retort; asking in return
blade; sword; forged blade; wavy pattern on forged blades; sharpness; unhulled rice
to order; to command; to appoint
almost; nearly; hardly; barely; large majority; large proportion
in any case; regardless; either way; since it makes no difference anyway (you might as well ...); since it won't change the outcome; if you are doing it regardless
to make a decision; to draw a conclusion; to give a judgement; to hand down a verdict; to let go down; to lower; to do oneself
to be complete; to be all present; to be equal; to be uniform; to gather; to assemble
to take on; to undertake; to take over; to inherit; to guarantee; to vouch for
to decide; to choose; to clinch (a victory); to decide (the outcome of a match); to persist in doing; to go through with; to always do
regrettable; disappointing; precious; dear; too good for; deserving better
attentive; cautious; careful; watchful
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
(a) principle; (a) reason; (a) point; some truth
further; above (that); greater (than that); any more
overbearing; coercive; pushy; forcible; high-handed
once; for a short time; briefly; (arch.) one morning
to look at again; to re-examine (policy, estimate, plan, etc.); to review; to get a better opinion of; to see in a more positive light; to improve
to get goosebumps; to have one's hair stand on end; to shudder
to attack; to assail; to succeed (someone in a post, role, etc.); to make a sudden visit
what!; oh; what the heck; what the; damn
child; kid; (one's) child; offspring; young woman; young (animal); offshoot
goblin; apparition; monster; ghost; phantom; spectre
straight; quickly; quietly; gently; to feel refreshed; to feel satisfied
to go pale; to grow pale; to lose color; to turn white
soul; spirit; willpower; vitality; something as important as one's own life; something invaluable
depths; deep place; bottom (of one's heart)
encroachment; invasion; erosion (e.g. of market share, rights); erosion; corrosion
shudder; shiver; trembling with fear
very young; little; childish; immature
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe
to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely