character (esp. kanji); letter; handwriting; penmanship; the ... word (e.g. "the L word" = "love")
to use (a thing, method, etc.); to make use of; to use (a person, animal, puppet, etc.); to employ; to use (time, money, etc.); to spend
(not so) much; (not) very
great antiquity; old-fashioned; long ago
wedge; chock; linchpin; tie; bond
difficult to ...; hard to ...
it seems; I think; I guess; right?; don't you agree?
denial; negation; negation (logic); NOT operation
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
but then; although; though; reasonable; natural; just
people; race; nation; ethnic group; ethnos
conquest; subjugation; overcoming
huge rock; massive boulder
something like ...; things like ...; someone like ...; the likes of ...
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
to give one's everything; to make one's best effort; to be enthused; to put your back into it
decoration; ornament; trimmings
particle indicating that the speaker is trying to recall some information
frank; candid; straightforward; openhearted; direct; outspoken
to reach the point that; to come to be that; to turn into
in accordance with; according to; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
various; a variety of; all kinds of; many; diverse
disposition; temperament; nature; mentality; spirit; character
come; come now; well; who knows; well now; let's see
rapidly; one after the other; without hesitation; unreservedly; sound of tramping; stomping
irritating; irritated; frustrating; vexing; (feeling things are) not quick enough; (feeling) too slow-going
later on; subsequently; by and by; after a while
outline; main points; generally; on the whole; general; rough
pessimism; disappointment
discontent; dissatisfaction; complaint; grievance
people (of a country); nation; citizen; national
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
to suffer; to groan; to be worried
science; learning; scholarship; arts and sciences; academic pursuits
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
state of mind; mentality; psychology
social structure; social organization; fabric of society