to have a cramp; to twitch; to stiffen (of a face, expression); to freeze; to shrink (of skin, due to a scar); to tauten
waste; scrap; garbage; scum; piece of trash; loser
nothing but; nothing more than; nothing less than
absurd; ridiculous; silly; ludicrous; nonsensical; asinine
whatever (the case may be)
unfortunately; regrettably; sad to say
and then; and so; and; so then
ignorance; innocence; stupidity
to press down; to hold down; to pin down
to pay attention; to be watchful
one's relatives by blood and marriage (in blood and law); one's kith and kin
resentment; grudge; malice; matter for regret; regret
moral support; emotional support; spiritual support
cannot help feeling that; cannot help thinking that
branch road; branch path; fork road
explanation; interpretation
disobeying the emperor's order
owing a lot to somebody; being indebted; never forgetting someone who has done a favour
majority; more than half; most (of); mostly; largely; mainly
Western affectations; excessively westernized person; wannabe Westerner
to take aim (at); to set one's sights (on)
full moon; 15th day of the lunar month
contacting; getting in touch; communication; call; message
surrender; submission; capitulation; being defeated (e.g. by a problem); giving up; giving in
each and all; every single one; everybody
mercantile disposition; having a nose for profit; commercialism; mercenary spirit
(political) administration; political power
at this stage; at this point; now (contrasting with the past)
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
to cite as an example; to refer to; to quote
mission; errand; task; duty; obligation
preservation; retainment; keeping
quantity; amount; volume; number; amount of money
early morning; early hours; early in the morning
fusuma paper; paper pasted over a fusuma (similar to wallpaper)
to rub in; to smear on; to spread on; to lay the blame on