contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to improve one's skill (esp. at calligraphy or drinking larger amounts of alcohol)
to bend backwards; to bend oneself back; to be taken aback
apathy; indifference; listlessness; athymia
making a round trip; going and returning; round-trip ticket; return ticket; correspondence; exchanging (letters)
smoothly; swimmingly; forthrightly; without hesitation
plate; dish; serving; helping; kanji radical 108 (at the bottom)
direction; orientation; bearing; course (e.g. of action)
to be visible; to be clear; to be evident; to be certain
to falter; to flinch (from); to recoil (from); to quail (at)
consequence; outcome; result; blame
reproachful; resentful; spiteful
wholeheartedly (approve, agree, etc.); unconditionally; completely
successively; one after another
combination; assortment; matching (in a contest); pairing; combination
to branch; to fork; to separate; to split; to disperse; to scatter
to run off; to break into a run; to start running
orpiment; gamboge; falsification; alteration
leaving behind; desertion; abandonment
with one's own body; by one's own action; through one's own experience; firsthand
arranged; taken care of; settled; completed; finished
passenger; rider; good rider
ordinary person; average person; man in the street; everyman; (a) nobody
master and servant; lord and retainer; employer and employee
to soar; to fly high; to be whirled up; to make merry; to be ecstatic; to be in high spirits
admiration; being impressed; admirable; praiseworthy; astonishment; being appalled
incredible; unbelievable; terrific; impressive
elegance; dandyism; sophistication; affectation; showing off; putting on an air
heartlessness; hardness of heart; coldheartedness; insentient; inanimate
riding (on horseback); mounting (a horse)
somehow; somewhat; seemingly
one more; another; the other; not quite; not very good; lacking
to surpass; to outstrip; to excel
to use to the full (one's voice, energy, etc.); to muster all of (one's strength, courage, etc.); to summon all of; to exert fully; to strain (one's voice)
now that it's come to this; since it's come to this
(fighting) spirit; motivation; shout (for getting in the right mood to deal with something, etc.); cheer; kiai; short shout when performing an attacking move
slightly (of an action); (looking) small and quiet
strict; severe; stringent; rigorous; rigid; firm
to push; to press; to apply pressure from above; to press down; to stamp (i.e. a passport); to apply a seal; to affix (e.g. gold leaf)
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use