if you can't beat them; join them; you can't fight city hall; if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side than to fight them
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
order; observance; discipline; rules; law; regulations
standing facing each other (e.g. mountains, buildings); standing opposite each other; confrontation; squaring off against (adversaries, armies, forces); standing off against
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; eccentricity; person with unusual tastes; eccentric; oddball
several people; a few people
followers; subordinates; being under someone's command
in fact; as a matter of fact; actually; in reality; to tell the truth
some; any; in any way; of some kind; of some sort
what; what kind of; no ...; any; adds emphasis to the preceding word; no
to endure; to keep out (e.g. rain); to pull through; to get over; to surpass; to outdo
fierce; intense; severe; very; extremely; terribly
to accept (something) with thanks
to be dispirited; to be dejected; to be disheartened; to lose heart
to tie; to fasten; to wear (necktie, belt); to put on; to total; to sum; to be strict with
taboo word; forbidden topic; words or phrases not allowed (in waka and haikai)
to be duplicated; to be repeated; to overlap; to fall together (of dates, etc.); to repeat (a failed course, school year, etc.); to make a double play
slightest notice; slightest consideration; slightest attention; a little thought; glance
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to add up to; to advance (in price)
honorific; term of respect; polite expression; honorific language
casual speech; peer language; informal language
nothing; naught; nought; un-; non-
shallows; shoal; rapids; current; position; place
formal; stiff; strict; ceremonious
too large (clothing); baggy; bulging; warping; parp; toot
barefoot; superior to (e.g. a professional); outdoing; outshining
heel (of foot, shoe, stocking, etc.)
sneaker; sneakers; trainers
hope; white hope; person of promise
China; Chūgoku region (western part of Honshu comprising the prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tottori and Shimane); central part of a country; main region; province of the second lowest rank (ritsuryō system)
international; diplomatic intercourse
large-pupilled; dark-eyed; having large irises
breast; chest; pit of the stomach; solar plexus; epigastrium
mouse; rat; dark gray; slate gray
pocket heater; hand warmer; heater pack
(chemical) body warmer; heat pad; hand warmer
cold (e.g. weather); uninteresting (esp. joke); lame; dull
cold (to the touch); chilly; icy; (emotionally) cold; coldhearted; unfeeling
to rub; to chafe; to strike (match); to squander (one's money); to run through (one's fortune); to lose money (e.g. by gambling)
eagerly (waiting); (waiting) impatiently
tatami mat; Japanese straw floor coverings
to spread out (e.g. a futon); to lay out; to lay down (e.g. a cushion); to impose widely (e.g. martial law); to promulgate; to pin down; to hold down
low dining table; tea table