obstacle; impediment; hindrance; handicap; impairment; disability
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
in truth; in actuality; at heart; the truth; the real story
position (where one is standing); place where one stands; position; stance; standpoint
selection; choice; option
unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
business world; business circles; (the) industry
confidence; trust; faith; credit (finance)
captive; prisoner; victim (of love, etc.); slave (to one's lust, etc.)
slipping out (a chuckle, giggle); unintentionally (letting out a quiet laugh)
perhaps; possibly; maybe; if; in case; in the event that
training; education; stocking up; laying in; preparation (e.g. ingredients); girl studying to become a geisha
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
incomplete understanding; doubt; question; distrust; suspicion; strangeness
to make a decision; to draw a conclusion; to give a judgement; to hand down a verdict; to let go down; to lower; to do oneself
to scream; to whine; to grumble; to complain
to end without incident; to not turn into something serious
ability; performance; efficiency
being stark-naked; having no possessions; losing all one's belongings
this (very thing); this precisely
to take down; to bring down; to drop off (a passenger); to let off; to withdraw (money); to use for the first time; to wear for the first time
to grimace; to make a wry face
one long cylindrical thing; one film, TV show, etc.; one version; one book; a certain book; ippon; one point
line; stripe; line (e.g. telephone line); wire; ray (e.g. X-ray); beam; line (e.g. of a railroad)
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
total darkness; pitch dark; bleak future; poor prospects
to subsist; to keep on living
to raise (esp. overhead); to brandish (e.g. sword); to flourish; to wield (e.g. power, authority); to proclaim one's principles
to shine on; to illuminate; to compare (with); to refer to
taste; smooth talking; reception; hospitality
to be suitable; to be appropriate; to match