laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
stimulus; impetus; incentive; encouragement; motivation; provocation
our country; our land; one's own country
to be of benefit; to be useful; to be good for you
change; alteration; difference; distinction; something wrong; abnormality
to affect adversely; to have a negative influence (on)
guess; speculation; supposition
region; limits; stage; level
to hold (in one's hand); to take (into one's hand); to own; to obtain
to turn over; to turn pages of a book; to tear off; to strip off; to tear up
argument; discussion; dispute; controversy
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
to think, feel, consider, know, etc.
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
materials; data; document
attendance; presence; appearance
high-ranking officials; ministers; ladies and gentlemen; everyone
taking something into consideration; making allowances; discounting
you (primarily used by males when addressing their male equals or inferiors)
sensation; feeling; tendency; propensity
father (esp. used in samurai families prior to the Meiji period)
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
unmarried woman; Miss; -ess; -ette
to marry (a woman); to take to wife; to take in marriage
seat; location (of a gathering, etc.); place; position; post
certainly; without fail; right and wrong; pros and cons
leading aristocrat; great house; grand seigneur; boyar
put; place; leave; do (in preparation)
happy; auspicious; propitious; naive
attendance; participation; presence
mouth; lips; shape of the mouth; near an entrance; vicinity of an entrance
equation; formula; ceremony; style; (arch.) enforcement regulations (of the ritsuryo)
contacting; getting in touch; communication; call; message