bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
to fling off; to throw off; to cast aside; to abandon; to throw to the winds
half joking; being (only) half serious; (in a) jocular vein
movie; film; motion picture
cartoon; comic; comic strip; manga
animation; animated film; animated cartoon; anime
legend; folklore; tradition
sometimes; occasionally; now and then; from time to time
protagonist; main character; hero; head (of a household); proprietor (of a store)
special; particular; peculiar; unique
qualifications; requirements; capabilities
look!; see!; here!; there!; hey!
apt to (do); liable to; predominantly; mostly; ... reaps the rewards; ... takes the prize
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
fashion; trend; vogue; prevalence (of a disease); epidemic
detailed; full; minute; knowing very well; knowledgeable (about); well-acquainted (with)
idle gossip; foolish talk; yarn
one's own convenience; one's way; surroundings; environment; convenience; ease of use; financial circumstances
before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
transcendence; transcendency
end; finish; bound; limit; delivery date (of a futures contract); finale (of a noh song); end of an act (in jōruri or kabuki)
critical moment; do-or-die situation; critical juncture
completion; conclusion; perfect (tense)
(earthenware) mortar (for grinding)
form; shape; state; condition; letter; correspondence
four; 4; four years of age; ten o'clock (in the old time system); burakumin; cross grips
stone; rock; jewel; precious stone; flint (in a lighter); (round) game piece
to play a leading role; to play a central part
rotation; revolution; working (e.g. of one's mind); function; turnover (of goods, funds, etc.); circulation
floating; drifting; suspension; (arch.) wandering (about)
with a bang (of a gun); with a boom (of artillery); with a thud; with a thump
pardon; forgiveness; forbearance
defense; defence; protection
OK; okay; fine (without); not needed; unnecessary
the four cardinal directions; north, east, south and west; surroundings; many countries; the whole world; all around; here and there
to stretch; to extend; to straighten out; to be flattened; to spread (of paint, cream, etc.); to stretch out (e.g. of a hand); to extend
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
central part; heart (of a city, etc.)
(made of) stone; stone-built
temple; shrine; sanctuary
just barely; only just; at the very limit; at the last moment
just (now, at the moment, etc.); just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
huge; vast; enormous; swelling; expansion
to blow violently; to sweep over; to devastate