vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
breaking through; breakthrough; surmounting (a difficulty); overcoming; exceeding; passing
carrying out one's original intention
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
to mash; to grind; to pulverize; to dissipate (a fortune); to run through; to lose
to blush; to go red in the face; to change color; to change colour
to gather (attract, receive) attention; to have a high profile; to gain prominence; to become popular
to outwit; to outmanoeuvre; to steal a march on; to get the jump on; to anticipate; to forestall
Herculean task; next-to-impossible undertaking
(being) empty-handed; lapse of manners of paying a visit without taking a gift
to get damp; to get moist; to get soggy; to become humid
long distance; long haul; long-distance race
one's social position; one's place; one's standing
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing; reward
defending to the last; desperate defence; stubborn defence
extermination (of pests); eradication; stamping out (e.g. a social evil)
defense; defence; fielding
serious; important; significant; grave; weighty
to brace oneself; to focus one's energies; to focus one's mind
armory; armoury; ordnance department
to put on (coat, gown, etc.)
four; 4; four years of age; ten o'clock (in the old time system); burakumin; cross grips
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
irregular; atypical; anomalous; anomalistic; abnormal
heaven-sent child (in answer to a Shinto or Buddhist prayer); child (e.g. of an era); product
waterway; canal; channel; swimming pool lane
to resound; to echo; to reverberate
to twinkle (e.g. stars); to flicker; to waver; to blink (one's eyes); to wink; to bat
length and width; length and breadth; every direction; all directions; as one wishes; as one pleases
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
to look through; to hold up to the light; to make an opening; to leave space; to fart without making a sound
short and stout; small but wide around
poor excuse (of a); nearly non-existent; barely sufficient; token (effort, etc.); symbolic