keeping a domestic animal beyond its useful life; keeping a person on the payroll without utilizing their skills
thankfully; fortunately; luckily; mercifully
sweet voice; seductive voice
to droop; to hang down; to weep
now that it's come to this; since it's come to this
to entwine; to twine around; to coordinate (with); to arrest
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages
appetizer or snack served with drinks; performance to liven up a bar; conversation to liven up a party
favourable; favorable; promising; satisfactory; in good shape
cherry tree; cherry blossom; fake buyer; paid audience; hired applauder; horse meat
painting something vermillion; lacquering something vermillion; vermillion-lacquered object
refinement; elegance; grace
depravity; corruption; degradation
to reach an extreme; to reach a limit; extremely; to be stuck; to be in a dilemma; to be decided
shaku (unit of distance approximately equal to 30.3 cm); rule; measure; length
sun (approx. 3.03 cm); length; measurement; shortness; tininess
triple; treble; threefold; three-ply; triplicate
Wu Hu (five tribes that migrated into China in 300-500 CE: Xiongnu, Jie, Xianbei, Di, Qiang)
core; tang (of a sword, etc.); middle of a nest of boxes
green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor); Japanese pheasant
trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
scornful laughter; ridicule; derision; sneer
to trip someone up; to pull the carpet from under
about; concerning; related to; -ish
somehow; in some way; for some reason; faintly; vaguely
juniors dominating seniors; inferiors overthrowing their superiors; retainer supplanting his lord
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
natural posture (esp. in judo); natural stance; natural attitude; relaxed manner; calm manner
dango eaten during cherry blossom viewing (esp. pink, white, and green)
to take (someone) by surprise; to do something unexpected
disturbance; perturbation; derangement
high rating; good reputation
greatly energetic; ferocious; extreme; severe
rush; rush hour; rush print (in films, anime, etc.); lighter aboard ship; LASH
minimum; lowest; minimal; least