being inferior to; being no match for; being best
at any rate; anyhow; anyway; in any case; because; as you know
learning; scholarship; study; study of ...; -ology; -ics
if that's the case ...; if so ...; that being the case ...
the last moment; the very end
rudeness; impoliteness; discourtesy; insolence
to be talented; to be able
decorum; propriety; politeness
dissatisfied-looking; looking discontented
to laugh at; to ridicule; to mock; to make fun of; to sneer at
to bend; to curve; to bend (the truth); to falsify; to corrupt; to sully
water supply; water service; channel; strait; water course; waterway
tasks; things to do; errand; business (to take care of); affairs; engagement
person with a lot of experience; old hand; veteran (in a particular field)
treasure hunting; treasure hunt; lucky dip; game involving finding hidden prizes from a sand box, barrel of leaves, etc.
roughly; approximately; round about; cursorily; briefly; quickly
treasure chest; strongbox
to kick; to refuse; to reject; to stamp (on the ground); to firmly press one's feet (against something)
gem; jewel; precious stone
to house; to contain; to carry (a baby); to be pregnant; (arch.) to give lodging to; (arch.) to accommodate
to throw; to fling; to heave; to toss
favorite (to win); favourite; likely winner; one's heart's desire; first choice
visit for no reason; go on fool's errand
the capital city (often Tokyo) area (typically within 50 km of city's centre) (center)
provincial city; provincial town; suburban city; regional towns and cities
maintenance; servicing; putting in place; establishment; development
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
reigning; controlling; dictating
country; territory; domain; realm
to win fame; to be widely-known; to be well known; to make a name for oneself
several years; a few years
decline; degeneration; decay; waning; ebbing
to open one's eyes wide (in astonishment, wonder, etc.); to be wide-eyed; to be amazed
bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy
puppet government; puppet regime
to be stormy; to be rough; to be rough (of skin); to be chapped; to be ruined; to fall into ruin
people (of a country); nation; citizen; national
substance; essence; real (in economics, vs. nominal, e.g. real interest rate); substantive; substantial
on the brink of collapse; in a state of near-collapse
unconditionally; as a rule
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
transition; change; progress; passing (of time)
smallness; small item; short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days); elementary school; smaller (of two things, places, etc. with the same name); inferior; younger (of two people with the same name)
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
place; room; margin; scope