vast; extensive; immense; huge; large; grand
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); (arch.) province (of Japan)
to straddle; to sit astride; to mount; to extend over; to spread over; to span
surroundings; environs; circumference
plot of land; lot; soil; locality; region; place
abundant; plentiful; rich; wealthy; open (mind); relaxed
neighbouring country; neighboring country; adjacent country
the instability of a political situation; political instability
going through; going via; going by way of
refugee; displaced person; person inconvenienced by (lack of something); person unable to satisfactorily (marry, shop, etc.)
public order; public peace; public security; law and order
townscape; street (of stores and houses); (look of) stores and houses on street
having one's guard up; not showing weak points; (of women) resisting attempts of being hit on; being distrustful of potential love interests; prudish
harvest; crop; ingathering; fruits (of one's labors); gain; result
to visit; to call on; to arrive (season, time, situation, etc.); to come; (arch.) to make a sound; (arch.) to send a letter
preliminary inspection; having a look in advance; preparatory read-through (e.g. of lesson notes); siding (on a house); clapboard
to come and go; to go back and forth
complete change; about-face
occupation (e.g. of territory); exclusive possession
handmade; homegrown; hand-crafted; homemade
wound; injury; chip; crack; flaw; defect
generally; in the main; (more or less) everything; all parts; ordinary; usual
absurd; ridiculous; silly; ludicrous; nonsensical; asinine
serious; severe; grave; acute
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly
in preparation (for); in case (of); in the lead-up (to)
so far; up to now; hitherto; that's enough (for today); it ends here
dyer's knotweed (Persicaria tinctoria, used to produce indigo dye); indigo (dye); indigo (colour)
curtain; hanging; bunting
to begin to fall (rain, etc.)
to be noisy; to be astir; to rustle; to murmur
to reverberate; to resound; to echo; to have one's fame spread; to be renowned
to rub; to scrub; to scrape
to go down and stand; to alight; to get down