wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting); probe; probing move
cotton plant (Gossypium spp.); batting; wadding; padding
alone; by oneself; unaccompanied; unaided; single-handed; without one's family
to stand in the way (esp. with legs spread out); to block the way; to stand in the way (e.g. of progress); to obstruct
to succeed; to bear fruit
extent to which (something) is true or false; whether or not (something) is true
secret techniques (of an art or skill); inner mysteries; essence; quintessence; heart
to investigate thoroughly; to research thoroughly; to master; to understand completely
to herd; to drive; to corner; to force someone into doing; to go hard; to push yourself
equation; formula; method for solving a problem; set way of achieving a particular result
mental illness; emotional disorder
moving forward (e.g. of a vehicle); onward movement; progress (of work, activities, etc.); advance; progression (of a disease, global warming, etc.); progression (e.g. chord progression)
thin rice porridge; watery cooked rice; rice gruel; congee
the Horse (seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Horse (around noon, 11am-1pm, or 12 noon-2pm); south; fifth month of the lunar calendar
9th day of the month; nine days
solution; solution strategy
to find out; to discover; to select; to pick out; to look out (from the inside); to be wide-eyed (in surprise, anger, etc.)
removal (of a building, equipment, etc.); dismantling (e.g. a tent); striking (a stage set, camp, etc.); withdrawal (of troops); pulling out; evacuation
remote region; outlying district; border district; frontier
vigilante group; neighborhood watch; self-defense group
little more than; only slightly better than; almost the same as
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
(Japanese) rice cracker; senbei
amount sold; sales; proceeds; takings; turnover
selling out; being sold out
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
anpan; bread roll filled with red bean paste
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
to fall (over, down); to collapse; to be destroyed (in a collapse); to collapse; to be confined to bed (with an illness); to come down with; to die
innumerable; countless; numberless
piece of paper; slip of paper; strip of paper; scrap of paper
to dance (orig. a whirling dance); to whirl (in the wind); to flutter (about); to swirl
king; king; king (chess piece)
to stop (someone) by throwing one's arms around them; to catch (someone) in one's arms; to hold (someone) back
story; topic (on everyone's lips); (the stuff of) legend
brilliant; splendid; glorious; magnificent; spectacular
birth (of a person); nativity; creation; formation; one's first birthday
with a screech; with a squeak; with a squeal
for two people's eyes to meet; catching someone's eye; making eye contact; meeting a person's gaze
bothersome; tiresome; bother to do