having one's back to the wall; having nowhere to go; having no way out; not having another chance
to beg forgiveness; to ask for someone's pardon; to ask for permission
rock (in rock-paper-scissors); stone; ungh; gulp; rumbling (of an empty stomach); growling
to pull apart; to separate; to draw; to tie (a game)
wording (esp. of written text); classical Chinese literary style; traditional written Chinese
closing time; lockup; curfew
here and there; everywhere
trifle; insignificant thing; (only) this much
seeing through (a trick, someone's mind, etc.)
supremacy; predominance; being superior to
first come, first served; the early bird catches the worm
pain; anguish; suffering; duhkha (suffering)
to be muddy; to be slushy
honestly speaking; in truth; in all honesty; to be frank
to get fed up with; to get sick of; to become disgusted with
rudeness; impoliteness; leaving; going (on one's way); taking without permission; stealing
great difference; big difference; wide margin
reading in a monotone; reading a Chinese classical text without translating it into Japanese
study; pursuit of knowledge
to rule; to govern; to administer
writing brush; paintbrush; writing with a brush; drawing with a brush; writing (composing text); the written word
stationery shop; a stationer
to desire; to wish; to beg; to request; to have something done for oneself
to make do errands; to set to scutwork
at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can
only; merely; but; no more than
thorn; spine; splinter (esp. lodged in one's flesh); hard sharp item (esp. lodged in one's throat, e.g. fish bone); biting words
to be renewed; to change; to be improved; to be reformed; to stand on ceremony; to be formal
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
charge; duty; person in charge; official; clerk
time appointed for meeting (assembling); time one is supposed to meet
to laugh at; to ridicule; to mock; to make fun of; to sneer at
exaggeration; overstatement; saying too much; misstatement; slip of the tongue; gaffe
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)