(a) weakness; shortcoming; failing; sore point
change of course; changing direction; shifting position (of retreating forces); retreat
moment just before something happens; verge (of doing something); brink
to lose a closely fought contest
locking swords and pushing against each other; close contest; neck-and-neck game; fierce competition
deceiving; cheating; fooling
most suitable; optimum; optimal; best
to expose; to disclose; to lay bare; to confess
essentially nonexistent; virtually nil
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
almost; very nearly; only just; barely; just in time
electric shock; blitz; lightning attack; sudden and without warning; shocking
toying with; playing with; making a plaything of (someone); treating as a plaything; trifling with
philosophical view; looking at philosophically; long view; farsighted view
glaring (eyes); piercing; penetrating
trivial; trifling; insignificant; stupid; nonsensical; absurd
detached house; single house; single building; isolated house; house in isolated location
literature; books (reference); document
agreement; coincidence; correspondence; conformity
(arch.) to be; (arch.) to be (at a location); sum of money
right and wrong; right or wrong
pledge; vow; having sexual relations; having sexual intercourse; destiny; fate
acceptable; satisfactory; approval; being in favour; Pass (grade); Fair
Nanbokuchō period (of Japan; 1336-1392); period of the Northern and Southern courts; period of the Northern and Southern dynasties (of China; 5th-6th centuries CE)
bog; marsh; swamp; quandary; dire situation from which one cannot extricate oneself; imbroglio
to spread; to propagate; to popularize; to broaden; to extend; to widen
to rove; to prowl; to go cruising
a lot; lots; enough; sufficient; enough; too many
gauge; standard; length; size; (measuring) rule; scale
to stop (plug) one's ears
to close one's eyes; to lower one's eyelids; to shut one's eyes; to die; to breathe one's last
retirement (from the world); seclusion
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
adult; grown-up; person who has come of age; fully fledged; established; qualified
swordsmanship; line drawn by the tip of a sword when slashing
to sing; to chirp; to twitter
contention; competition; rivalry; quarrel
secret techniques (of an art or skill); inner mysteries; essence; quintessence; heart
eager; earnest; ardent; OFF (on switch)