originator; pioneer; inventor; progenitor; primogenitor; founder of a family line
free (of restraint, controls, etc.); free (of charge); freelance; independent; freelancer; one-size-fits-all; free skating
to begin (doing); to start (doing)
regarding highly; attaching importance to
appeal made directly to a senior official without going through formalities
occupying; having (an area) all to oneself; military occupation; possession; capture
to take the initiative; to forestall; to beat to the punch
uneasy; unsure; unreliable; untrustworthy; (arch.) nervous; (arch.) impatient
(being) most satisfactory; (being) quite satisfied; (being) quite enough
still better; even better
giving something a try because it will not do any harm
water's edge; waterside; shore
croaking (of a frog); ribbit ribbit
fighting with one's back to the wall; having burnt one's bridges; last stand; last-ditch effort
anciently; formerly; old times; a long time ago
all out; like hell; like crazy; desperately; (lit.) expecting to die
stingy; mean; narrow-minded; petty; shabby; poor
one party; one faction; one clique
letter; note; epistle; correspondence
opening (a letter, parcel, etc.); breaking the seal; unboxing (a product); unsealed mail
document; letter; writing; contents (e.g. of a letter)
in the sentence; in the text; Bunchū era (of the Southern Court; 1372.4.?-1375.5.27)
abstention; nonintervention; noninterference
oral; verbal; spoken; parol
to ask (about); to inquire; to enquire; to question; to make sure of
unless (you do something)
hound; hunting dog; running dog; dupe; tool of another person
to scheme; to plan; to play a trick; to invent; to conspire; to frame up
there's no knowing; there's no telling; it's anyone's guess; who knows?
to hang (something) on (something); to throw on (clothes); to hook; to catch; to cheat; to evade payment; to drink (alcohol)
clumsiness; awkwardness; ineptitude
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
one's own potential; real ability; one's own strength
to have an idea; to have a clue
wiles; sinister design; trick; conspiracy; intrigue
bid rigging; collusion (on contract bidding); (illegal) price-fixing agreement; consultation; discussion; conference
dim light; faint light; half-light of early morning; twilight