to compete ruthlessly; (lit.) to sharpen swords
ability; performance; efficiency
progress; advance; improvement; development
equation; formula; ceremony; style; (arch.) enforcement regulations (of the ritsuryo)
after all; because; but; even; too; as well
just like that; in the twinkling of an eye; in the blink of an eye; (lit.) in the time it takes to say "ah!"
classical music; classic; classical; classic (work); the classics
quite capable of ...; could happen; not unlikely to
prefix for forming ordinal numbers
than; from; out of; except; but; more
shortage of talented people; shortfall in human resources
direction; way; side (of an argument, etc.); one's part; type; category; field (of study, etc.)
question (e.g. on a test); problem; problem (e.g. societal, political); question; question (i.e. doubt); public discussion
nonexistent; not being (there); unowned; not had; unique; not; impossible
today; this day; these days; recently; nowadays
factory; plant; mill; workshop
new; neo-; newness; novelty; Gregorian calendar; Xin dynasty (China, 9-23 CE)
troops; group members; team members
candidate; contender; prospect; candidacy; candidature; nomination
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
to stand on tiptoe; to rise in the world; to become arrogant
certainly; of course; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how); without even; without so much as; at the (least, earliest, etc.)
independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
gang of young toughs; hooligans; hoodlums; hoods; yobbos
no; nay; well; er; you're welcome; not at all
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; anticipation; looking forward to
honorific/polite/humble prefix
mark; guide; purpose; aim; sight (on a firearm)
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
to be (of animate objects); to exist; to stay; to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
to fall (of rain, snow, ash, etc.); to come down; to form (of frost); to beam down (of sunlight or moonlight); to pour in; to visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
to be late; to be delayed; to fall behind (in a race, one's studies, etc.); to lag behind; to be bereaved of; to be preceded by (someone) in death
it is, isn't it?; I know, right?; innit?
first generation; founder
lateness; tardiness; arriving late
what!; oh; what the heck; what the; damn