beginning; outset; first; onset
light (of movements); nimble; light-hearted; cheerful; taking a turn for the better (of an illness); receding of symptoms
provocative; incendiary; inflammatory; suggestive; lascivious; risqué
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
emotional strength; force of will
test of patience; battle of wills; endurance contest
big man; large man; tall man; giant
left and right; right and left; (asserting) control; influence; one's attendants; people accompanying one
to warp; to bend; to contort; to be perverted; to be warped (of a view, mind, etc.); to be distorted
to cock one's head in puzzlement; to tilt one's head in contemplation; to wrack one's brain; to think hard
good-looking; fair; beautiful
lifesaver; person who saved one's life
beautiful face; good looks; beauty
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to hug; to have (a thought or feeling); to hold; to harbour (suspicion, doubt, etc.)
lie; fib; mistake; error; unwise move; bad decision
to write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
by myself; in person; by oneself
to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
(not) in any way; in no way; at all; terribly; awfully; hopelessly
difficult to ...; hard to ...
hot (thing); passionate (feelings, etc.); ardent; hot (e.g. temper); zealous; enthusiastic; intense
lie; falsehood; fiction; fabrication
young man; young woman; young people; youth; youngsters
somehow; how; in what way; why; what kind of
armpit; under one's arm; beside; close to; aside; to the side; off-track
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
humour; humor; safety; health; in a good mood; in high spirits
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; effects (e.g. sound effects, visual effects, special effects)
to adhere to; to stick to; to keep close to; to go along with; to get involved with; to be thick with
being blocked (and contained); reduced circumstances
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); just like (someone)
to be descended from; to inherit (a disposition, etc.) from one's ancestors
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
courteous; decorous; polite
bed; berth; crib; cot; kip; bedroom
expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
occupation (e.g. of territory); exclusive possession