improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
private pupil; apprentice
not ... for nothing; not ... with nothing to show for it; worthwhile; no wonder ...
to temper thoroughly; to train well
to envision how things will turn out (usu. unfortunate); to have foresight; to be able to see the future
kimono; Japanese traditional clothing (esp. full-length); clothing; clothes
relationship of mutual trust; fiduciary relation
to stiffen; to become stiff; to harden
hopeless; futile; no use; beyond help; cannot be done
palpitation (of the heart); pounding; throbbing; thumping
on a routine basis; regularly; habitually
modesty; self-control; discretion
accomplishment; lessons (in an art, skill, etc.); practice
stupidity; ignorance; stupid person; ignorant person
ridiculously; unusually; exceptionally
Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion
to tickle; to tickle (one's curiosity, vanity, etc.); to arouse; to make (someone) laugh; to amuse
healthy; sound; wholesome
to get damaged; to get chipped; to be wounded; to get injured; to get hurt (reputation)
how; in what way; in what manner
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; (good) idea; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
bull's-eye; object of desire; most-coveted goal; male crotch (as a target in fighting); the jewels (as in "kick him in ...")
gold and jewels; precious object
to appear uncomfortable (with); to seem to hate; to express dislike
in a sense; in some way; to an extent
seed (of a fruit); pit; tongue (projecting strip on a board that fits into a groove on another board); clitoris; (arch.) core; (arch.) kernel
to rub; to pat; to stroke; to massage
being startled; getting a shock
miraculous fountain; fountain in the grounds of a shrine
to slide into; to slip into
grains; lumps; drops; grainy; bumpy; coarse
so; accordingly; now; then; thereupon; therefore
babies born on October 10, supposedly conceived on New Year's Day; normal gestation time (i.e. 9 months)
detectable; noticeable; recognizable; observable
stinging (pain); smarting; tingling
to peel off; to come off; to be taken off
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
to become inverted; to become reversed
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
mochi; small rice cake made from glutinous rice
skill involving the hands; craft
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to