early; a little earlier than usual; a little faster than usual; slightly quicker
good policy; wise policy; best plan
disappearance; running away; going missing; absconding
to be put in order; to be put to rights; to be disposed of; to be solved; to be finished; to be married (off)
good-for-nothing; scapegrace; nuisance; trouble
main; principal; main dish; main course; main part; principal part
to roll up; to enfold; to swallow up; to involve; to drag into
to receive permission; to leave (with someone's permission); to retire; to refuse; to beg off doing
gentle; quiet; mild; quiet (color, pattern, etc.); sober
situation; (present) state of affairs; circumstances
scene; setting; scene (in a movie, play); shot; state of the market
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting); probe; probing move
and then; in addition to that; also; even so
swing; shake; appearance; behaviour; pretence; pretense; (a customer) coming to restaurant, ryokan, etc. without a reservation or introduction
to soften; to moderate; to relieve
gossip; corner of the mouth
to lean against; to set against
to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to relate to (a matter); to pertain to; to (seriously) affect; to concern
shortage; amount outstanding (e.g. on loan); deficit
defect; fault; flaw; deformity; deficiency; shortage
courtyard; quadrangle; middle court
trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
mark; target; object; subject; point (e.g. of argument)
and yet; though; when; in spite of
irony; sarcasm; unexpected; different from what one expected; (only) surface; something superficial
guidance; leadership; leading the way
back; reverse; rear side; height; stature; ridge (of a mountain)
craftsman; skilled artisan
grasping; gripping; handful; fistful; handle; grip; onigiri
thickness; profundity; depth; thickness; strong and tight group or wall of stones
something like that; sort of like that; similar to that; in that vein
safe (e.g. choice); secure; innocuous; acceptable; passable; satisfactory
doll; puppet; marionette; puppet (person under the control of another); straw man; yes-man
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
bamboo (any grass of subfamily Bambusoideae); middle (of a three-tier ranking system)
to put clothes on (someone); to dress; to cover; to coat; to pin (e.g. a crime on someone); to lay (blame)
centre of gravity (center); centroid; barycenter; (one's) balance
completely (quitting, etc.); entirely; thoroughly; cleanly (cutting, snapping off, etc.); in a single blow
how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like
section; cross section; profile
to cut off; to lop off; to prune