fastidiousness; love of cleanliness
... is the reason; ... is my excuse
tedious; boring; being fed up with
capture (of enemy territory); taking (by storm); defeating (an opponent); attacking (a problem) strategically
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
to haul in (hand over hand); to pull in; to draw in; to trace (history, threads of a story, etc.); to retrace (e.g. memories); to go over
by the way; incidentally; sometimes; occasionally; precisely (at that time); exactly
ugly; unsightly; hideous; mean; repulsive; disgraceful
to engrave an inscription; to call (designate) itself; to mark; to label
whitewashing; glossing over; lip service; deftly finishing up; putting on the final touches
origin; source; beginning; starting point
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
changing completely; transformation
for a moment; for a minute; for a while; for some time; for the time being; for now
starting point; origin; origin (of coordinate axes); datum point
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
Mr; Mrs; clan; he; him; counter for people
only; just; since; after; remaining (in a particular state)
lapse of memory; (something) slipping one's mind; forgetting for a moment something one knows well
strongly hoping or requesting (of something that is difficult to be brought to fruition)
having an immediate effect; taking immediate effect
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to let live; to keep alive; to revive; to resuscitate
splendid; praiseworthy; admirable; well done!; bravo!
can do nothing but (do); cannot help (doing) something
to crumble away; to collapse
to twist; to wrench; to puzzle over; to defeat easily
to be shut; to close; to be firm (of a body, face, etc.); to be well-knit; to be locked; to tighten
to break off; to come to an end; to be interrupted; to be cut short; to pause
to carry off; to run away with; to sweep away; to take entirely for oneself; to monopolize
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
to stop; to cease; to come to an end; to cut off
man (esp. one who is well-respected); samurai; person (in a certain profession, esp. licensed); member
it's different when ... but; it's not so bad when ... but
distinctly (standing out); clearly; in sharp relief; boldly
explanation (of a text, phrase, etc.); lecture; explanation (in a pompous fashion); (long-winded) lecture; (arch.) storytelling
to be lost in deep thought; to be deeply immersed in thought
mental; spiritual; emotional
front and rear; front and back; before and after; around; about; order; context
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
(arch.) sitting outdoors; room that served both as a reception room and as a living room in a Heian-period mansion; temporary sitting place installed in the garden at the imperial court, used on the occasion of archery or sumo ceremonies