stiffening; rigidity; rigor; stiffness; ossification; petrification
severe; strict; tough; hard
chain (bicycle, measuring, tire, etc.); chain (store, hotel, etc.)
to connect; to tie; to fasten; to transfer (phone call)
(arch.) Chinese bamboo; (arch.) bamboo imported from China (often used to make flutes); descending vertical sword attack (in kendo, etc.)
to content oneself with; to be resigned to (one's fate); to be contented (satisfied) with (one's lot)
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
putting one's life on the line; giving everything one has got; acting out of desperation
torture to death; torment to death
branch road; forked road; branch; crossroads (of a course of events); turning point; parting of the ways
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
to break off; to come to an end; to be interrupted; to be cut short; to pause
very loud volume; megavolume
pardon; forgiveness; tolerance; leniency; mercy; going easy (on someone)
to be imminent; to loom; to be approaching; to be impending
stopping a sword stroke between one's bare hands
stupor; stupefaction; trance; (being) dumbfounded
(with a) whizzing sound; sound of something whizzing by
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
outside the hall (or stadium, market, etc.); off the grounds; off the premises; off-track
to slip out; to sneak away; to break into the lead; to get ahead; to begin to fall out (e.g. hair); to break out (of a loop)
combo (esp. a small jazz group); combination; set; combo (set of actions performed in sequence)
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
the last moment; the very end
congratulations!; well done!; best wishes!; all the best!
fighting bravely; strenuous efforts
(pieces of metal, etc. hitting each other) noisily; cluttered; disordered; messy
legitimate; orthodox; traditional
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
study; research; investigation
second month of the lunar calendar
anyone; anybody; everyone; everybody; whoever
just a minute; small quantity
opponent; adversary; the competition; the other side; one's enemy
leaf; blade (of grass); (pine) needle
principal occupation; main job; professional; an expert; I (of a government official, etc.); me