training; drill; practice; discipline
to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to make an effort; to be zealous
character (esp. kanji); letter; handwriting; penmanship; the ... word (e.g. "the L word" = "love")
in comparison to; rather than
previously; before; first; before (something or someone else); beforehand; in advance
so; like this; in this way
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
one day; (on) a certain day
student (esp. a university student)
apprenticeship; probation; learning by observation; apprentice; trainee; probationer
remote place; backcountry; the sticks; hinterland
duty; function; office; mission; task
appeal; call for something; request; axiom
strong; potent; strong; brawny; good (at); skilled; being able to handle
by means of; due to; because of; according to
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
accompanying; travelling together; traveling together; same bank
to pass (of time); to elapse
promotion; advancement; rising in rank
troops; group members; team members
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
one long cylindrical thing; one film, TV show, etc.; one version; one book; a certain book; ippon; one point
to set up (a house, store, etc.); to build; to have at the ready (e.g. a gun); to hold in preparation (e.g. a camera); to adopt a posture; to assume a stance; to put on an air
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
to lose; to be defeated; to succumb; to give in; to be inferior to; to break out in a rash due to (e.g. lacquer, shaving, etc.)
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
gift; boon; (good) result; fruit (e.g. of one's efforts)
while; even though; despite
time; hour; period; class
to attach; to join; to furnish (a house with); to wear; to put on; to keep a diary; to make an entry
to receive; to take; to get somebody to do something; to have in one's pocket (a fight, match); to contract (a disease); to catch
hard worker; hardworking person
dispatch; despatch; deployment; temporary employee (esp. from an agency); temporary worker; agency temp
national border; provincial border
remote region; frontier (district); border(land)
demon; devil; evil spirit; monster; goblin; apparition
many; numerous; large amount of; large quantity of; frequent; common
certainly; of course; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how); without even; without so much as; at the (least, earliest, etc.)
also; too; not ... either; (it's not possible) no matter what; although one might wish otherwise
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict