successive generations; successive emperors
to give up; to admit defeat; to throw in the towel
overcrowding; congestion; overpopulation; crammed (schedule); congested; busy
(those) who are; (that) which is; in the capacity of
acquaintance; relation; affinity; reason
concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention; concentration (of population, buildings, power, etc.); centralization; within a collection of works
to become stiff (of muscles); to get absorbed in; to develop a passion for; to be elaborate; to be intricate
brow; glabella; middle forehead; area between the eyebrows
to stay behind; to remain; to work overtime
deliberation; discussion; consideration
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
government; government service; the bureaucracy; government post; government official
low Japanese-style desk (for reading and writing)
to rest one's chin in one's hands
external injury; external wound; (physical) trauma
to catch sight of; to see; to suppose; to assume from appearances
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
rare; extraordinary; singular
point worthy of note; good point; part worth seeing; (signs of) promise; good prospects (for the future)
performing a part in one's own play; playing a musical piece that one has written; doing everything by oneself (from preparation to execution); put-up job; charade; sock-puppeting (i.e. pretending to be more than one person on the Internet)
theory; doctrine; opinion; view; rumour; rumor
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
fabrication; forgery; falsehood; hoax
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
to choose one's words (with care); to be careful with one's words
to garnish; to accompany (as a card does a gift); to add to as support; to prop up; to accompany (as an aid, guide, translator, etc.); (arch.) to mimic
with my own (two) eyes; with these very eyes
tightly; tautly; (springing, straightening) up; suddenly; intuitively; instinctively
to straighten up one's back (e.g. stand up straight, sit up straight); to hold one's head high
ripple (on water); wavelets; ripple (e.g. of uneasiness); unrest; disturbance
noble; lofty; high-minded; virtuous; upright
licking one's lips (at the sight of appetizing food); licking one's lips (in anticipation); waiting eagerly (for); salivating (e.g. at the thought)
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
being very busy; busyness
calm; composed; cool; quiet
lately; recently; nowadays; terribly; awfully; extremely
control; check; restraint; inhibition
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid; to come to grips with; to get to the core of
bygones; the past; past event
(the art of) storytelling
poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at); not one's cup of tea; not one's favorite
opinion; view; comment; scolding; reprimand; rebuke
guidance; leading; induction; introduction; incitement; inducement
inarticulate; clumsy with words; poor at speaking
Herculean task; next-to-impossible undertaking