diligent; hard-working; industrious
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
rare; exceptional; extraordinary; unique; incomparable; unparalleled
nonsense; no meaning; meaningless
assumption; supposition; hypothesis; supposition
total destruction; complete destruction; annihilation; total defeat; complete failure
actually; really; truly; in practice; practically
to cut off (someone's head); to behead; to decapitate
great difference; big difference; wide margin
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
position (where one is standing); place where one stands; position; stance; standpoint
present age; present day; contemporary; modern era; modern times; contemporary era
this way; this direction; here; this (one); I; me
one's normal condition; one's usual state; keynote (esp. shamisen); proper key
thoughtless; reckless; rash; excessive; unreasonable; immoderate
to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to cancel; to abandon; to give up
thorough; exhaustive; complete
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
double suicide; lovers' suicide; group suicide; family suicide; dedication to the point of self-sacrifice
to account for; to make up; to occupy (a place, position, etc.); to hold (a rank, seat, etc.); to occupy (one's mind, heart, etc.); to weigh (on one's mind)
gloss; luster; mellowness (of a voice); youthfulness (e.g. of skin); interest; appeal
strength; intensity; strong (e.g. glasses); powerful (e.g. lens); intense (e.g. fear)
to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
to be broken; to break; to break (down); to stop working; to fall through (of a plan, deal, etc.); to collapse
restoration; repair; mending
citizens of one's own country; fellow countrymen; compatriots
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
to compare; to make a comparison (between); to compete (on); to measure (one's strength, ability, etc. against another's)
complete change; about-face
rendezvous; tryst; (lover's) meeting; (secret) date
immersing oneself in; being absorbed in; devoting oneself to; giving oneself up entirely to
secondary residence; vacation home; villa
assassin; candidate fielded by a political party to oust an incumbent of the same party
to push in; to force into; to break in (e.g. into a house); to intrude
pleading; entreaty; supplication; petition
... years old; age (of) ...