by far / continuing for a long time; long-lasting; forever; always; for the entire time

(the one) before, formerly, ago / the former, the previous

contest, comparison, competition

compare, contrast

the Japanese language

he / distal demonstrative, something far off removed from both speaker and listener: that / boyfriend

distal demonstrative, something far off removed from both speaker and listener: that, yon / particularly, male personal third person pronoun: he / by extension from he: boyfriend

he; boyfriend

skillful, dexterous

(rare) skill, dexterity / flattery (from being told how skillful one is, even if one isn't) / a person with the seventh dan in the games of shogi or go