tiny amount (degree, extent); paltry amount; slightest bit
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
ticket; token; label; tag; sign; card; playing card
with a smooth, unhindered motion; speedily and without delay
person of paramount authority; supreme wielder of power
sudden emergence; sudden formation; coming out of nowhere; bursting onto the scene
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull
being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
advance party; advance team; advance group; vanguard unit
devastating; catastrophic; crushing
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
to change places; to relieve one another; to replace someone
noisily; clamorously; incessantly (complaining, pestering, etc.); going on and on; loudly (crying); wailing
origin; birthplace; descent; lineage; ancestry
to be contrary to one's expectations
eta; group comprising the lowest rank of Japan's Edo-period caste system and whose work usually involved handling human bodies or animal carcasses
impatient; tantalized; tantalised; irritated; chagrined; chagrinned
to begin (doing); to start (doing)
to squat; to crouch down (completely, generally with face looking through knees)
to talk; to chat; to chatter
to be to the point; to hit the mark; to be relevant
pearl; Perl; purl (knitting stitch)
it's different when ... but; it's not so bad when ... but
to rank next to; to come after
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
near; close; beside; vicinity; proximity; besides
at the last moment; this late in the game
to dismantle; to demount; to take something away; to detach
raw; uncooked; natural; as it is; unprotected (sex); live (i.e. not recorded); inexperienced
reason; principle; general principle (as opposed to individual concrete phenomenon); (in neo-Confucianism) the underlying principles of the cosmos
ranking equal with; comparing favourably with; comparing favorably with
mischief; prank; pastime; hobby; playing with (a lighter, etc.); fooling around with
throne; crown; government position; court rank; social standing; rank; grade (of quality, etc.)
god; deity; incredible; fantastic; (arch.) Emperor (of Japan); (arch.) thunder
road; path; route; way; distance; journey; road (e.g. to victory)