ordinary; common; commonplace; mediocre; unremarkable; undistinguished
quick to seize an opportunity
however; nevertheless; but; and yet; whereas; while
monopoly; monopolization; exclusivity; hogging; keeping to oneself
once in a while; occasionally; seldom; at long intervals
to plunder; to grab; to snatch
development; growth; development (of a situation, story, etc.); advancement; playing around; having an active sex life
to (keep in) mind; to give heed to; to pay attention to
laughable; ridiculous; pitiful; contemptible; absurdity
to accumulate merit; to make merit
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
ferocious; fierce; truculent; savage
eaves; narrow aisle surrounding the core of a temple building
to take; to catch; to capture
the opposite direction; the other way
to wind (thread, film, etc.)
very thin; flimsy; cheap; shallow
scroll; rolled book; scarf; muffler; sushi made rolled in nori seaweed with a core of filling
layman (esp. as opposed to a Buddhist monk); laity; local manners; modern customs; common; popular
the mere shadow of one's former self; the ruin of what one once was
boundless; limitless; vast; broad
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
on one hand; on the other hand
to pose a riddle; to hint (at); to drop a hint
what; what kind of; no ...; any; adds emphasis to the preceding word; no
to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for; to cover (a shortage, loss, etc.); to fill (e.g. a vacancy)
old; aged; long; since long ago; of the distant past; long-ago
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
Sunday; day (of the month); counter for days; Japan
settlement for a dispute (esp. one caused by an affront or blunder); money paid to settle a dispute
best; extra-fine; superfine; exceptionally; extraordinarily; by far
old tale; folk tale; legend; reminiscence
someone who is greatly one's senior; veteran
boastful speech; bragging
failure story; horror story
degenerate monk; corrupt priest
to get hold of; to take possession of; to seize
highly priced; expensive; valuable; costly
shhh! (sound used when getting someone to shut up); shoo! (sound used to drive animals away)