the very best; excellent; superb
to (see and) choose; to select; to diagnose (as); to judge; to estimate; to liken (to)
to hand (over); to deliver in person
absolutely every little bit; everything from A to Z; systematically; thoroughly; one after another; successively
to greet; to call out (to); to invite; to get in touch (with); to cheer (on); to give vocal support (to)
divorce; dissolution of adoption
arrogant; haughty; insolent
chōnin (Edo-period social class of town-dwelling commoners, esp. landowning merchants); townspeople; townsfolk; tradespeople
rate; ratio; proportion; percentage
laying (a railroad, pipes, naval mines, etc.); construction
rate; ratio; one tenth; ten percent; (comparative) profit; gain; assignment
behaviour; behavior; conduct
to keep (something) a secret; to keep hidden (forever); to continue to conceal
before one knows it; without realizing; unawares; unnoticed
(any) particular; special; material; perceptible; noticeable
interval; break; pause; gap (between objects); interval; opening
to lose heart; to lose interest; to become stale (i.e. of a carbonated beverage); to go flat; to lose focus; to let one's guard down
changing (job, career, lifestyle, social position, beliefs, etc.)
personal history; background; career
aesthetic sense; sense of beauty; eye for the beautiful
to get on (train, plane, bus, ship, etc.); to get in; to get on (e.g. a footstool); to step on; to reach; to go over; to follow
constitution (physical); physical make-up; predisposition (to disease); character (of a group, organization, etc.); innate characteristics; make-up
high-grade sake; fine drink
non-drinker; someone who cannot drink
proper; respectable; decent; honest
to excel; to surpass; to be superior; to be conspicuous (esp. forehead and eyebrows); to be prominent; to stand out
to open up (to someone); to become unreserved; to lower one's guard; to become friendly (with); to feel at ease; to take a relaxed attitude (to)
(period of) a year; during the era (of)
self-discipline; self-improvement
ordinary; average; run-of-the-mill
crossing swords; competing against; contending with; fighting against
to have a lot of influence (in); to have clout (with); to be influential; to have contacts (in)
eloquence; fluency (of speech)
silver (Ag); silver (color); silver (medal, prize, etc.); silver coin; silver general; bank; (arch.) money
body; group; party; gang; troupe; troop
to take (someone) along; to bring along; to be accompanied by
story; topic (on everyone's lips); (the stuff of) legend
situation where alcohol is being served; (over) a drink