bare minimum; minimum necessary (amount, number, etc.)
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
in the same manner as before; the same as always
to build up one's strength; to get stronger; to give (someone) strength; to cheer (someone) up; to encourage (someone)
laughing while crying; smiling through one's tears; (alternately) laughing and crying; tears and laughter; joy and sorrow
in preparation (for); in case (of); in the lead-up (to)
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
general review (e.g. of one's lessons); dress rehearsal
check; plaid; checking; monitoring; check (banking); cheque
upper tier; upper section; place of honor; place of honour; dais; raised part of floor
as you see; as you can see
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
lower tier; lower step; lower column; low position (of a sword in kendo, etc.)
to spend time (on doing something)
taking up a new line of work; the beginning of things; starting the preparations for New Year's festivities (December 8 in Tokyo, December 13 in Kyoto); resuming work after the New Year's vacation
advance or retreat; moving forwards or backwards; course of action; behaviour; remaining in one's post or resigning; staying or leaving
to draw through one's hand; to stroke (e.g. a beard); to work someone hard; to masturbate
in some way; somehow or other; somewhere or other
two times; twice; two degrees
this and that; one thing or another
invitation; introduction; temptation
to comb down; to smooth down
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
full of (e.g. mistakes); riddled with; covered all over with (blood, mud, etc.)
thankfully; fortunately; luckily; thanks to your (his, their, everyone's, etc.) kindness; thanks to your assistance; thanks to your support
boorish; unrefined; rustic; uncouth; clumsy; brusque
attitude to life; form of existence; way of life
to close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.); to shut
a blink of time; (lit.) the time it takes to say "Ah!"
personality; character; personal appearance; gentility
arrogant; haughty; stuck-up; arrogant bastard; snob
trembling with fear; filled with trepidation
hard worker; hardworking person
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
passion; enthusiasm; zeal
matter of time; question of time
to loathe to part (with); to be reluctant to leave (someone)
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
implicitly; indirectly; tacitly; by implication; obscurely
declaration; proclamation; announcement