some prefer nettles; there's no accounting for taste; every man to his taste
to hesitate; to hold back; to be reluctant; to be unwilling; to have loose painful bowel movement; to suffer from tenesmus
knotweed (Polygonaceae); jointweed; smartweed; water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper)
insect; bug; worm; roundworm; one's emotions; one's feelings; nervousness
that is to say; so that means
failing mark (e.g. in exam)
to stay behind; to remain; to work overtime
daily routine; daily work; daily lesson
to compare; to make a comparison; to compete; to vie
results; record; grades; marks
favourable; favorable; doing well; OK; all right
what's done is done; it is no use crying over spilt milk; (lit.) spilt water won't go back into its tray
O-Bon; Obon; Bon Festival; tray
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
to shake; to waver; to tremble
fixed phrase; canned phrase; standard wording; template; boilerplate
various foreign countries; several foreign countries
monologue; soliloquy; German (language)
total darkness; pitch dark; bleak future; poor prospects
to continue one's studies up to university; to go to university
compulsory subject; required subject
weak point; weakness; shortcoming; defect; flaw; sore spot
to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for; to cover (a shortage, loss, etc.); to fill (e.g. a vacancy)
university; college; former central university of Kyoto (established under the ritsuryo system for the training of government administrators); the Great Learning (one of the Four Books)
management; (executive) staff; leaders; leadership; top brass; upper echelons
many; much; majority (of); greater part (of); mostly; mainly
evacuation; emission (e.g. of CO2, etc.); ejection
national defence; national defense
party; group; crew; company (of troops); corps; unit
study of foreign languages; linguistics
to lose heart; to be discouraged; to be exhausted; to be tired out
to have much trouble; to have a hard time; to not know how to handle
big gamble; big plunge; big mountain
huge rock; massive boulder
(field) marshal; (fleet) admiral; general of the army
even; even if; even though; because of; on the grounds that
founding a country; opening of a country (e.g. Japan) to the world; ending (a policy of) national seclusion
understanding; comprehension; grasp; perception; appreciation; mastery (of an art or skill)
frustrated (over a failure, humiliation or injustice); annoyed; chagrined; (bitterly) disappointed; bitter; vexed
court noble; nobility; Imperial Court
Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336.7.4)