life and death; life or death
from the beginning; from the first; all along; of course
to have no way of knowing; to be completely ignorant of
coating (esp. lacquering)
girl's lacquered wooden geta; wooden footwear; clogs; sabots
koban; small oval gold coin used in the Edo period; oval; elliptical; small size (of paper)
one (esp. of two); the other; on the one hand; on the other hand; whereas; although
satisfactory; decent; good; proper; worthy
to become thin; to lose weight; to reduce (one's) weight; to be barren; to be infertile; to be sterile
pale; pallid; bluish-white
to plan; to attempt; to plot; to conspire; to aim for; to strive for
movement; move; motion; trend; development; change
rain; rainy day; rainy weather; the November suit (in hanafuda)
every time; whenever; as; whether; in (either case)
triangle; triangular shape
person who has spent X years after graduating high school attempting to get admitted to (a specific) university
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
to surge (water or waves)
unexpected; unforeseen; inconceivable
to come near; to let someone approach; to bring near; to bring together; to deliver (opinion, news, etc.); to send (e.g. a letter); to let someone drop by
the whole enormous extent of Edo; from one side of Edo to the other
thousand years; very long period; forever
moat; fosse; trench; ditch
carving; engraving; chiselled features
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
(sound of) wind blowing through pine trees; (sound of) steam whistling in a kettle (at a tea ceremony); matsukaze; sugar-glazed cookie sprinkled with sesame or poppy seeds
faint; dim; weak; poor; wretched; meagre
inner palace (in Edo Castle); palace's ladies chambers; shogun's harem
lock; padlock; tablet; lozenge; pill
surface; face (i.e. the visible side of an object); front (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin; outside; exterior; appearance
government office; public office
middle; midway; middle position; moderate position; interim; intermediary
barrier; checkpoint; checking station
business; errand; nature of one's business
to act as an agent for; to intermediate; to announce (someone's arrival); to answer (the door, the phone); to convey (a message)
to permit; to allow; to forgive; to pardon; to exempt (someone) from; to remit; to acknowledge
scrubbing; getting grime off
shogunal vassal; direct retainer of a shogun