offense and defense; offence and defence
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
maturing; ripening; aging; ageing; curing; fermenting
to become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither
to serve (in a bowl, on a plate, etc.); to dish out; to pile up; to heap up; to administer (medicine, poison); to dose out; to put into (e.g. information in a report, meaning in a statement)
to wither (of a plant); to be blasted; to die; to mature (of one's personality, abilities, etc.)
to lose one's temper; to lose patience; to have enough; to be exasperated; to become irritated; to get fed up
strutting; sticking out the chest
long sword (as opposed to the shorter katana)
resolute; determined; bold
to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
natural disaster; natural calamity; act of God
harvest; crop; fruits (of one's labors); gain; catch (fishing); bag (hunting)
to be consistent; to be coherent
succession; continuation; series; sequence
ecdysis; shedding (of skin); sloughing; freeing oneself; breaking with (convention, etc.)
hibernation; winter sleep; brumation; torpor
restoration to life; coming to life again; reformation; rehabilitation; recycling; reclamation; playback
circulation; rotation; cycle; loop
change; changing; vicissitudes; fading; waning
affection (esp. parental); love; fondness
the ancients; ancient people
cast-off skin (snake, insect, etc.); husk; empty shell; exuvia; exuviae
to abandon; to throw away; to discard; to forsake
gap; narrow space between things; valley; gorge; loophole (in a castle wall); arrow slit
lightly; easily; carelessly
immortality; eternal life; undeath; undead
in general; generally; mostly; gist; point; main idea
and so; therefore; for that reason
to make a display of; to show off; to flaunt
to incline toward; to slant; to go down (sun, moon); to sink; to decline; to wane
ability; capacity; capability; physical strength
advantageous; favourable; better; profitable; lucrative; gainful
to take advantage of; to impose on; to exploit; to enter (an item in a ledger); to make an entry (in an account book)
comfort; ease; easy; simple; (economically) comfortable; raku pottery
scrap; (small) piece; unimportant (person); petty ...; humble ...
conquest; subjugation; overcoming (a difficulty); conquering (e.g. a mountain); mastery (of a skill)
long-handled Chinese spear; lance; weapon; arms; grip of a bow; parade float decorated with long-handled Chinese spears
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to underestimate; to make light of