soon; shortly; before long; nearly; almost
one's normal condition; one's usual state; keynote (esp. shamisen); proper key
emergency staircase; emergency stairs
door handle; doorknob; door knob; knob or handle which operates the door catch
to lay hands on; to touch; to care for; to look after; to make off with; to steal
to fall (of rain, snow, ash, etc.); to come down; to form (of frost); to beam down (of sunlight or moonlight); to pour in; to visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
metallic sound; metallic clank
to drop like a rock (e.g. of reputation, power, influence); to go down the toilet
to throw violently against; to slam against; to strike; to thrust at someone (e.g. a letter)
to break; to be smashed; to split; to crack; to be divided (opinion, vote, etc.); to split (e.g. of a party); to come to light
to close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.); to shut
How did you like ...?; How about ...?; What's going on?; How's it going?
sleep-talking; nonsense; gibberish
other side; opposite side; other party
grumbling; muttering; nonsense
to give up all thoughts of; to abandon; to despair of; to make up one's mind; to take a momentous decision
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
to sink (into); to cave in; to get stuck in
to exert oneself greatly; to take pains
spare time; free time; time (e.g. time it takes to do something); time off; day off; quitting (one's job); firing someone
(talent) scout; recruiter; scouting; headhunting; Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts
lieutenant colonel; commander (navy)
position (where one is standing); place where one stands; position; stance; standpoint
an eye for people; the ability to judge character
to support; to maintain; to bring up; to raise; to adopt (a child); to cultivate (a habit, a quality, etc.)
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
one more time; once more; once again
counter for large animals (e.g. head of cattle); counter for insects in a collection; counter for helmets, masks, etc.
low birth; humble origin; lowly; base; vulgar
sword (esp. Japanese single-edged); katana; scalpel; chisel; burin; knife money (knife-shaped commodity money used in ancient China)
scabbard; sheath; cap (on pen, brush, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
descent (to earth, esp. of a god); advent; epiphany; arrival (of an important person); appearance
foolish thing; stupid thing; absurdity
alternately; by turns; one after the other
to learn by experience; to learn one's lesson; to learn the hard way; to be discouraged (by); to have enough (of); to be disgusted (with)
precious; valuable; priceless; noble; exalted; sacred
to represent; to signify; to reveal; to show; to express; to make widely known
insect; bug; worm; roundworm; one's emotions; one's feelings; nervousness
extermination (e.g. of pests, demons, bandits); elimination; making someone renounce worldly desires in order to concentrate on Buddha's teachings; curing illness