to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
busy; hectic; hurried; rapid; quick; sudden
just one person; only one
slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
encroachment; invasion; erosion (e.g. of market share, rights); erosion; corrosion
kotatsu; table over an electric heater, with a hanging quilt to retain heat (orig. over a charcoal brazier in a floor well)
stillness; silence; quiet; hush; calm; serenity
to erase; to drown out (e.g. a voice); to make disappear
unit (e.g. meters, grams, etc.); denomination; unit (i.e. one comprised of many); group; credit (in school, university, etc.); point
to meet; to face someone; to co-star; to appear together; to be matched; to face against
guardians; parents; father and older brother
everyday; always; at all times; frequently
mask; disguise; guise; mask
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
whip; lash; stick; cane; encouragement; rebuke
expulsion; dismissal; ejection; drum beat at the end of a day's performance (in the theatre, sumo, etc.)
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)
to torment; to torture; to afflict; to harrow
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
whispering; whisper; secret talk; murmur
not in one's recollection; having no recollection (of); having no memory (of)
to permeate (of a stain, smell, etc.); to become ingrained; to become embedded; to become a deeply ingrained habit; to become second nature
sanity; consciousness; soberness
time axis; time basis; timeline
present point (i.e. in history); at the present time
reaching; attaining; arrival
easily; readily; quickly; lightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.); plainly; simply
inner thoughts; real intention; at heart; deep down; inner center (centre)
sleek; smooth; thin (of a liquid); without hesitation or delay
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
to stretch; to extend; to straighten out; to be flattened; to spread (of paint, cream, etc.); to stretch out (e.g. of a hand); to extend
change; alteration; difference; distinction; something wrong; abnormality
loose; slack; gentle (slope, curve); slow (speed); lenient; liberal
shall ...; to assume; to suppose
growth period; growing season
to be complete; to be all present; to be equal; to be uniform; to gather; to assemble
to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with; to be equivalent to
tire track; traces of a person or thing; path one has taken; locus