beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
anticlimax; let-down; disappointment; loss of interest
number of cases, incidents, items, messages, accounts, etc.
purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.); company (or restaurant, place, etc.) that caters to or is popular with a specific clientele
gloomy (e.g. mood); depressing; irritating; troublesome; heavy (weather); cloudy
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
to creep up to; to approach stealthily; to steal up; to draw near unnoticed
seeing (with the naked eye); observation; visual inspection
following (e.g. someone's opinion); being servile to; adherence; compliance; emulation; mimicking
chase; pursuit; tracking; following up; tracing
(your) business; (your) concern; (customer's) order; official business (of the government, Imperial Court, etc.); arrest; capture
to become frightened; to be frightened (of); to be scared (of)
actor; actress; man of wits; clever person; cunning fellow
to cherish; to treasure; to prize; to take good care of; to look after
hair dyed brown; brown-dyed hair
to be fascinated (by); to be captivated by; to be enchanted by; to gaze admiringly at; to watch in fascination
to hack; to chop (firewood, meat, etc.); to chop off (e.g. a head)
to hit (e.g. one's head); to strike; to throw (at); to fling (at); to vent (e.g. one's anger); to express (one's feelings)
to dispel; to clear away; to accomplish a goal; (arch.) to make it sunny; (arch.) to make clouds disappear
to do someone in; to bump someone off
fresh out of (college, high school, etc.); just out (e.g. of a book); first of the season (e.g. apples)
to be pretentious; to put on airs; to try to appear smart; to act brave; to try to look cool
long talk; long-winded speech
sword strike; sword slash
to knock down; to knock off
to instigate; to incite; to spur on; to set (e.g. a dog after someone)
to be a good match (for); to stand a chance (against); to be able to compete (with); to hold one's own
operating together; working together; being linked (to); being tied (to); being connected (with); interlocking
to start to say; to attempt to say; to be about to say; to speak to; to address
poor-looking; impoverished-looking; scrawny (e.g. figure); thin-looking; sparse (e.g. meal)
dress; attire; clothing; getup; outfit; personal appearance
practice-swinging (sword, bat, tennis racket, etc.)
flatly rejecting; curtly refusing; beating easily; defeating handily; one kick
to hit hard; to strike hard
to pin down; to knock down; to push (and hold) someone down (esp. with sexual connotations)
support; help; backing; covering (from enemy attack); protection
people; (all) persons; everyone; (arch.) you (usu. plural)
light; easy; non-serious; minor
with a slamming noise (e.g. door, telephone receiver); with a banging noise; with a clash; with a clank; with a bang