painful; difficult; distressing; (psychologically) difficult; straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation)
military authorities; army circles
makings (of); aptitude; talent; nature; character; temperament
remarkably; markedly; rapidly; sound of breaking or creaking
to distinguish oneself; to stand out
military campaign; battle; war
neighbouring country; neighboring country; adjacent country
war; fighting; fierce competition
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
huge win; overwhelming victory
military register; muster roll
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
difference; distinction; discrepancy; mistake; error
duty; function; office; mission; task; role
end; tip; extremities; rank and file; part of an organisation furthest from the centre
recommendation; referral; endorsement
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
long-handled Chinese spear; lance; weapon; arms; grip of a bow; parade float decorated with long-handled Chinese spears
percussion; tapping; examining by percussion; sounding out (someone's intentions); making an approach (about)
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
to anticipate; to expect; to place confidence in; to put trust in; to find promising; to see good prospects (in)
after all; in the end; conclusion; end; end of a game of go, shogi, etc.
mainly; primarily; mostly; largely; chiefly
to go in the direction of; to proceed toward; to become; to face (facts, circumstances, etc.); (arch.) to abide by; (arch.) to agree to
peacetime; time of peace; ordinary times; normal times
whole; entirety; to begin with; in the first place; ... the heck (e.g. "what the heck?"); ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")
originally; primarily; essentially; intrinsically; proper; rightful
aspiration; volunteering; desire; application
vast (ocean, desert, etc.); boundless; vague (e.g. memories); unclear; rampant (weeds, etc.); running wild
to grow long (e.g. hair, nails); to lengthen; to extend; to reach out; to hold out; to straighten; to smooth out
(doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content; letting (something) go unchecked; leaving uncontrolled; leaving (something) to take its own course
moustache; mustache; whiskers (on a cat, etc.); feelers (on an insect, etc.); shadow (on a candlestick chart)
military man; warrior; soldier
pet name; nickname; affectionate name; term of endearment