real intention; true motive; true meaning
don't you think?; indicates question
stinking; smelly; suspicious; fishy; clumsy; unskilled
tug of war (orig. a form of divination to predict whether the year will be favourable or unfavourable); forward puller (of a rickshaw)
the big two...; two major...; two main...
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
reason; cause; circumstances
halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection; the two equinoxes (vernal and autumnal)
dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall
foreign country; other country; another province; strange land; alien land
to look on enviously while doing nothing; (lit.) to hold a finger in one's mouth
should (be); bound (to be); nock (of a bow); nock (of an arrow); nock-shaped grip (between thumb and forefinger); wooden frame on the tip of the mast of a Japanese ship that prevents the hawser from falling out
to have a showdown; to settle (e.g. a dispute)
to leave a trail; to leave traces; to have a lasting effect
rear gate (esp. of castle); back entrance; one who arrests; force attacking the rear of a castle; (opponent's) weak point
to dominate; to prevail; to be superior to; to get ahead of; to get the upper hand
above; up; top; summit; surface; before; previous
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
exhaustion; consumption; using up; dissipation; waste
to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control; to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb
domestic discord; internal discord; internal strife; internal struggle; infighting
riskiness; (level of) danger
to conceive; to become pregnant; to get filled with (e.g. sails filled with wind); to be swollen with; to contain (a contradiction, danger, etc.); to carry (a problem, consequences, etc.)
remnant; residue; remaining; left-over
large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryo system)
to fight; to compete; to contest; to argue; to dispute heatedly
a country whose laws are based on religious criteria; theocracy
union; alliance; combination; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
to fold one's arms; to stand and watch (without interfering); to stand idly by; to lie in wait; to be ready and waiting
feature; trait; characteristic; peculiarity; distinction
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon); naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; promoted rook
jaw; chin; barb (of a fishhook)
to push out; to project; to stick out; to hand over (e.g. to the police)
complete picture; panorama; what it all adds up to; bird's eye view; all-embracing portrait; overall perspective
place; situation; position; location