to be sharp; to be keen; to be on the ball; to have a mind like a steel trap; to be clever
person requiring special attention; person to be wary of; person under (police) surveillance; dangerous person
maximization; maximisation
trend of the times; way things are going
peace; quiet; tranquility; tranquillity
meek; quiet; docile; mysterious; marvelous; marvellous
inner moat; moat within the castle walls
gap; break; pause; interval; cut; incision
used item; secondhand item; old; used; previous
final effort; final spurt; end; close; conclusion
entirely useless; completely worthless; no no; don't!
immediate (effect, result, etc.); instant; instantaneous; prompt
impure; adulterated; foul; mixed; dishonest
to take one's place; to take one's position; to go into position; to line up
to investigate thoroughly; to examine closely; to probe into; to be obsessed with a thought; to brood over; to worry about
trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
port city; harbor city; harbour city
transcendence; excellence; superiority
eta; group comprising the lowest rank of Japan's Edo-period caste system and whose work usually involved handling human bodies or animal carcasses
vivid (memory, description, etc.); fresh; graphic; fresh (blood, scar, etc.); still new; recent
exhausted; tired; withered; worn out; boiling until shapeless or mushy; tediously
talking in delirium; incoherent muttering
cotton plant (Gossypium spp.); batting; wadding; padding
to fall apart; to collapse; to be completely defeated (in battle); to be wiped out; (arch.) to fall apart (one's body or health)
outline; summary; gist; roughly; about; nearly
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
to be fated to; be linked by fate
unfathomable; inestimable; immeasurable
act of treachery; breach of faith; stab in the back; double-cross
advantages and disadvantages; interests (of parties)
pre-made (esp. food); prepared in advance