to trace (drawing); to follow; to imitate; to copy; to reproduce
thin; skinny; delicate; fragile; feeble
obstacle; impediment; disability; handicap; steeplechase; obstacle race
prioritized; focused; concentrated; predominant
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
stupid; dim-witted; dense; dull; obtuse; slow
certainly; surely; undoubtedly; just; precisely; exactly
declining; refusal; rejection; announcement; notice
to be sad; to mourn for; to regret
to knock (someone) down; to floor; to beat up; to deal a devastating blow (from which one cannot recover); to devastate (emotionally); to crush
to let (someone) hear; to tell (e.g. a story); to make (someone) listen; to make (someone) understand; to grip (someone) with skilful singing, storytelling, etc.; to hold (someone) enchanted by
cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)
death; (an) out; death penalty (by strangulation or decapitation; most severe of the five ritsuryō punishments)
returning alive; surviving; reaching the home plate
to make sound (of an animal); to call; to cry; to make a meld call (e.g. pung, kong)
bird; bird meat (esp. chicken meat); fowl; poultry
chirp; twitter; warble; whale tongue
to work on (someone); to appeal to; to make approaches to; to begin to work
to quiet (a child, crowd, etc.); to quieten; to calm (one's nerves, excitement, etc.); to compose (oneself); to suppress (a rebellion, riot, fire, etc.); to quell
early days; early years; early stages; initial stages; beginning
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
to be lost (e.g. luggage); to be missing; to be used up; to be run out; to disappear (e.g. pain); to be lost (e.g. a dream, confidence)
absolutely; positively; decidedly
to break the silence; to break one's silence
notice; notification; permission; consent; rejection; refusal
another time; again; over again; formally; especially; intentionally
to be betrayed; to be brought to grief (by an enemy); to be given a hard time
dominant player (e.g. in politics); single strong player
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
(hot) stove league; trading of players in the off-season
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
to divide (into); to split (into); to share; to distribute; to distinguish; to discriminate; to break up (a fight)
to show appreciation for (efforts, esp. by someone of equal or lower status); to thank for; to reward for
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
sponsor; promoter; impresario; organizer; organiser
entering; entrance; attendance; audience; containing; income; earnings
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
to stagnate; to be delayed; to be left undone; to be overdue (of a payment); to fall into arrears; to be outstanding
next season (esp. in sports); next year
regular; standard; regular player (on a team); regular guest (on a TV show); regular (gasoline)
fight; dispute; feud; competition; contest; rivalry
to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to relate to (a matter); to pertain to; to (seriously) affect; to concern
being quick-eared; having sharp ears; being first to know about something
to have a good idea; to be able to predict