total darkness; pitch dark; bleak future; poor prospects
blue; azure; green; pale; gray; unripe
to pattern after; to liken to; to imitate
precious; valuable; priceless; noble; exalted; sacred
to be touching; to be moving
wick; marrow; core; heart; pistil (of a flower); stamen
like everyone else; like most people; like an ordinary person; as much as anyone else
to become blunt; to grow dull; to become less capable; to weaken; to falter
between both countries; bilateral
revolution; 58th year of the sexagenary cycle (in Onmyōdō)
to gather momentum; to gather strength; (for a trend) to reach a peak
leaving a device on (e.g. TV, air conditioner); leaving something engaged (e.g. a key in a lock)
stretch; tension; resilience; springiness; will-power; pluck
from (this, here, etc.); since (this)
clouds in midwinter; cold winter clouds
to frolic about; to mess around
tip of nose; before one's eyes; under one's nose; tip (of something)
to squat; to crouch down (completely, generally with face looking through knees)
in a whisper; in a low voice; in undertones
percussion; tapping; examining by percussion; sounding out (someone's intentions); making an approach (about)
tightly; closely; exactly; precisely; suddenly (stopping); perfectly (suited)
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; anticipation; looking forward to
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
ruler; monarch; sovereign
custom; practice; convention; precedent
to tear; to rip; to break through (cordon, opponent's defense, etc.); to breach; to defeat; to beat; to break (e.g. silence)
how many years; how long; what year
surroundings; environs; circumference
(really) terrible; awful; (very) nasty; (extremely) harsh; severe
disqualification; elimination; incapacity; being unfit for one's role; being a failure
propulsion; drive; promotion (of a policy, project, movement, etc.); furtherance; advancement