to feel around for; to fumble for; to investigate; to probe into; to explore (parts unknown); to enjoy (natural beauty)
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
instability; insecurity; crankiness
detailed; full; minute; knowing very well; knowledgeable (about); well-acquainted (with)
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); small fight with a military enemy; squabble; quarrel; brief argument
to begin; to start; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)
elegance; dandyism; sophistication; affectation; showing off; putting on an air
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
hair; fur; wool; down; plumage
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to follow; to accompany; to cleave to; to join up with; to obey implicitly; to flatter
(establish) friendly (cordial) relations (with, between); (form) friendship (e.g. with a nation)
a head (e.g. taller or shorter); noticeable difference (in competitors' results)
to slip out; to steal out; to excel; to stand out
the whole world; the whole country; society; the public; supremacy over a nation; government of a country; having one's own way
to knead; to mix with fingers; to quibble; to argue for argument's sake
mochi; (sticky) rice cake
just like that; quite so; I agree; (lit.) that street
suspicious; dubious; doubtful; unsure; untrustworthy; unreliable; strange
leaving as is; leaving alone; leaving to chance; neglecting; abandoning
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
taking refuge; finding shelter; evacuation; escape; seeking safe haven
several; a number of; quantity; amount; counting; figures; number
ratio; proportion; percentage
simply; merely; only; solely
to manage skillfully; to manoeuvre (e.g. car, horse); to maneuver
to deal with (a person); to treat; to deal with (a problem); to handle; to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to deal in
easy; likely to ...; have a tendency to ...; easy to ...
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
narrow; thin (sized); slender
angular; angular-shaped; sharp-pointed
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
pointed end; tip; point; forefront; vanguard; spearhead
heel (of foot, shoe, stocking, etc.)
left and right; right and left; (asserting) control; influence; one's attendants; people accompanying one
different suitabilities; being cut out for certain things (and not for others)
to branch; to fork; to separate; to split; to disperse; to scatter
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon); naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; promoted rook