gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
eligible; qualified; competent
jumping the gun; premature action; omen; portent; first produce of the season (vegetables, fish, etc.); herald; runner sent ahead to announce one's lord's arrival (Muromachi and Edo periods)
to rub (on); to wipe; to daub; to lay (the blame on someone); to pin; to shift
to open (e.g. one's robe); to bare (e.g. one's chest); to open up (of clothing); to be exposed; (arch.) to open wide (one's legs, eyes, mouth, etc.); (arch.) to stretch
mediocrity; the masses; ordinary run of men
to laugh at; to ridicule; to mock; to make fun of; to sneer at
slapping on (stamp, sticker); flopping down
branch (of flowers); cluster; mass (of clouds)
crisp (like a pickle); crunchy; firm (musculature); stiff (shoulders, neck, etc.)
to jump; to leap; to splash (of oil, mud, etc.); to spatter; to burst; to crack open
fondly; admiringly; with fascination; with adoration; with enchantment
valley; ravine; cleavage (of breasts); part or place that has been left behind; blind spot
to get twisted; to get crooked; to become twisted (of a mind, relationship, etc.); to become warped; to become troubled; to become complicated
report; notification; registration
to hang; to suspend; to lower; to reduce; to demote; to move back
difference; discrepancy; variation
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
shameless person; sophisticated person; brazen hussy
to be degraded; to come down in the world; to lose status; to be ruined; to fall low
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
to leak (urine, feces); to soil one's pants; to dump (untreated waste, sewage, etc.); to discharge (untreated effluent); to leak (information, secrets, etc.); to bleed (a deficit, losses, etc.)
to smear all over; to slather on; to besmear; to paint heavily; to spread thickly; to bedaub (with paint)
mercy; compassion; clemency; rufous hawk-cuckoo; northern hawk-cuckoo
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
ecology; life and habits (of an animal); mode of life; way of living
one's last moments; hour of death; death throes; agonies of death
plate; dish; serving; helping; kanji radical 108 (at the bottom)
frequently; often; (staring) fixedly; narrowly; closely
observation; survey; watching
flavor; flavour; charm; appeal; experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
normally being cold but at some prompt suddenly becoming lovestruck; hot-cold personality type
to be shy; to be bashful; to feel awkward; to feel embarrassed
interpretation; explanation; reading; construction
extreme cold; intense cold; coldest season; midwinter
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
bewitched sword; magical sword; demon sword