short distance; close range
standard equipment; standard feature
to pilfer; to filch; to swipe
interception; monitoring; tapping
short distance; short range; short-haul
the Japanese; Japanese side; Japanese delegation; Japanese representatives
decorative curtain hung from the ceiling; tent; pavilion; marquee
to hide; to conceal oneself
dots; spots; bit by bit; little by little; here and there; scattered
to begin to fall (of rain, snow, etc.)
rain intensity; passing shower; streaks of pouring rain
belligerence; fighting spirit
to make one's rounds; to patrol
little more than; only slightly better than; almost the same as
hand used like a sword in striking
vacuum; absolute void; complete vacuity
skill; proficiency; experience; dexterity
to fall continuously (of rain, snow, etc.); to fall hard; to fall heavily; to pour down
beginning of hostilities; beginning of competition; first match (in a series)
peephole (e.g. in a door); observation window; viewing window
if I had to say; if pressed (to answer); if I must choose; if I had to choose
will-o'-the-wisp; ignis fatuus
a gathering of many beautiful women (talented people); simultaneous emergence of many talents and achievements; (lit.) hundred flowers blooming in profusion
bad luck; ill fortune; misfortune
to form a group; to form a bunch
rapid succession (e.g. questions)
preemptive strike; preemptive attack; first strike
to continue to rain or snow
stars; the stars and planets; celestial bodies
wasteland; wilderness; deserted land; prairie; vast plain; wilds
several hundred; hundreds (of)
assumption; supposition; hypothesis; supposition
fort; stronghold; fortification
protective wall; defensive wall; barrier; bulwark
old-fashioned; behind the times; out-of-date; antiquated
field battle; field operations; open battle; battlefield; battlefront
offensive camp; team at bat
affectation; pretension; thin veneer; blunt sword with a tempered steel edge