prompt; immediate; in real time
tone (of argument); tenor; drift
(the) mainstream; main course (of a river); main stream
November; eleventh month of the lunar calendar
since; henceforth; ever since
tense relationship; tense relations; strained relations; strained ties; tension
bygones; the past; past event
beyond one's control; nothing one can do
pre-war days; before the war
military force; military strength
to count on; to expect; to put confidence in; to trust in; to depend on
abandonment; renouncement; renunciation; resignation; abdication; surrender
equal; identical; the same; no different (from); just like; equivalent
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
all-out confrontation; total confrontation
to take off; to jump; to take the plunge; to decide; to step out of the ring
suicidal act; self-destroying action; suicidal action
even at the best of times; already; (even) under normal circumstances; in addition to; as it is
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind
large country; major nation; great power; province of the highest rank (ritsuryō system)
at least; at most; (even) just
superficial; apparent; seeming; surface; cosmetic
isolation; being alone; being friendless
(common) use (of a language, currency, etc.); current use; to be accepted (e.g. of a way of thinking); to work (of an excuse, trick, etc.); going in and out; entrance and exit
to take the profit over the fame
breakdown (of talks, negotiations, etc.); breaking off; rupture
submitting to (a demand, one's fate, etc.); putting up with; resigning oneself to; accepting (without complaint)
intention; wish; purpose; mind (to do)
lack of unity; inconsistency; disharmony
getting closer; drawing nearer; being not much different; being near (age, skill, etc.); becoming close (i.e. friendly); becoming intimate
very; considerably; by no means; not readily; middle; half-way point
telephone call; telephone (device)
fraud; swindle; graft; saying you're going to do something but in the end not doing it; making promises without keeping them; flaking out
to know; to understand; to (understand and) accept (a responsibility); to have a knowledge of (a skill, art, etc.); to have a command of
to some extent; to a certain extent
selection; making a choice; sifting; decision to adopt or reject
to remember; to recall; to call to mind; to imagine; to picture in one's mind; to visualize
being highly educated, having a high salary and being tall; (lit.) three highs; high-valued yen, high stock prices and high land prices (usu. in reference to Japan's "bubble era")
unexpected; unforeseen; inconceivable
fortitude; firmness of character; sturdiness; inner strength; hardihood