large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryō system)
smallish; on the small side
to insert; to put between; to tuck (into)
pitch-black; jet-black; strongly tanned; deeply sunburnt; sooty; black with dirt
to paint; to spread; to plaster; to apply (cream, lotion); to smear; to lacquer
making (a report, plan, contract, etc.); drawing up; writing out; preparing; creating (a file, website, account, etc.)
on the way; en route; in the middle of; midway; halfway
weird; eerie; ominous; creepy; uncanny; unearthly
to give an impression; to make an impression
from the standpoint of; from the viewpoint of; on; above; the best; top
writing; entry (e.g. to a form); posting (e.g. to a blog)
center; centre; middle; -centered; -centred; -focused
to slide; to slip off; to get dislocated; to be out of alignment; to get dislodged; to deviate
almost; nearly; for the most part; roughly; approximately; about
relay; hook-up; relay broadcasting
the big two ...; two major ...; two main ...
to travel all over; to be active in places widely apart
(foreign) trade; (international) commerce; importing and exporting
serviceman; servicewoman; soldier; member of the armed forces; military personnel
advance guard; vanguard; avant-garde; forward (player)
partner country; other country (in a dispute, arrangement, etc.); opponent (country)
to attack; to assault; to challenge; to take on; to be bold; to be audacious
local specialty; special product (of a region)
so to speak; so to call it; as it were; in a sense
to make something one's own; to appropriate for oneself
to reach out (for); to extend one's reach (towards); to set one's sights (on); to work towards (getting, becoming, etc.); to put out a feeler; (lit.) to extend one's tentacles
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
filthy; unfair; dirty; untouchable; disgusting; nasty
to whirl; to eddy; to swirl; to whirl around (of feelings, thoughts, etc.); to swirl around; to surge
isolated; standing alone; falling in drops (e.g. rain); saying a single word; muttering just a few words
ship; boat; tank; tub; counter for boat-shaped containers (e.g. of sashimi)
poaching (fish or seafood)
will; probably; may; I think; surely; I hope
picking; collecting; harvesting; extraction
in form; ceremonial; for form's sake; pro forma
company; corporation; firm; one's workplace
affiliated with; under jurisdiction of; under the umbrella
influenced (by); under an influence
intention; wish; purpose; mind (to do)