before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
back; rear; background; behind the scenes
movement; transfer; migration; mobile; moving; traveling
iai; art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword afterwards
structure; construction; posture (e.g. in martial arts); pose; readiness; determination
art; technique; means; way; trick; trap
fast; quick; early (in the day, etc.); premature; (too) soon; not yet
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
sharpness; cutting ability; quickness (of wit); incisiveness; peppiness (of a ball)
how much; something over; and something; however (much); no matter how
inevitable; necessary; foregone; brinkmate (inevitable checkmate)
high-speed; rapid; express; highway; freeway; expressway
drawing a sword; drawn sword
sound; noise; note; fame; Chinese-derived character reading
together with; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
to turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
small; little; slight; below average (in degree, amount, etc.); low (e.g. sound); soft (e.g. voice)
trunk; torso; plastron (in kendo); touching the plastron (kimari-te in kendo); frame (of a drum, etc.); sound box (of a shamisen, etc.)
mourning; mourning period; anniversary of one's death
body; trunk; torso; hull (boat); fuselage (aircraft)
suddenly; all of a sudden
to wrap up; to pack; to cover; to envelop; to conceal (a feeling); to hide
result; consequence; coming to fruition; bearing fruit; as a result; consequently
as you see; as you can see
having no choice; at a loss for what to do; at one's wits' end
two (long cylindrical things)
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
to sew; to stitch; to weave one's way (e.g. through a crowd)
indication; sign; hint; tone (of the market)
to erase; to delete; to turn off (power); to switch off; to extinguish; to put out
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
to approach; to draw near
cancellation; rescinding; release; calling off; lifting (sanctions); delisting
have to (verb); must (verb); is indispensable; absolutely necessary
be supposed or expected to (do); be sure to (do); ought to (do)
calling on someone who is ill; enquiry; inquiry
nimble; agile; quick; quick (thinking); smart; alert
elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress