extraordinary; preposterous; outrageous; absurd
powerlessness; helplessness; incompetent
to look away; to avert one's eyes
cheap-looking; tawdry; insignificant
rustling; flapping; unkempt (hair, etc.); loose; dry; decisively
futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
immediately; right away; at once; instantly
to slip into; to crawl into (under); to conceal oneself (under); to sneak into; to infiltrate
to separate; to part; to divide; to keep apart
purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.); company (or restaurant, place, etc.) that caters to or is popular with a specific clientele
travelling incognito (traveling); special palanquin for carrying a daimyo or his wife incognito
middle of the night; dead of night
light; illumination; glow; lamp; light
to run; to run (of a vehicle); to drive; to rush (to); to dash; to retreat; to flee
thief; robber; burglar; bandit
to appear; to come in sight; to become visible; to be expressed (e.g. emotions); to become apparent (e.g. trends, effects)
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
arm; skill; efforts; ability
burly; strong; indomitable; indefatigable; robust (vitality, appetite, economic growth, etc.); strong
comfort; consolation; diversion
in; on; at (place); as for; regarding
state of mind; mental state; mental attitude
contacting; (making) contact; connection (with a train, bus, etc.); joining (a railway line, etc.); connection (between matters, incidents, etc.); relation
willingly; voluntarily; on one's own accord
to smash; to break into pieces
artificiality; pretence; contrived act; commission (of a crime); feasance
delightful; joyous; joyful; happy; desirable; welcome
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
king; queen; monarch; the Crown (as a focus of authority in the UK, etc.); the throne
policy; course; plan (of action); magnetic needle
to tell; to inform; to announce; to indicate; to signal; to mark
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
among these; between these; of these; in here; in this
priority; order of precedence
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
to engage (with); to be in gear (with); to bite each other; to be on the same wavelength