to bring up a subject; to touch on a matter
to span; to bridge; to cross; to straddle
inner citadel; core; center; centre
preparation; arrangements
working overtime; detention; being kept in (e.g. after school)
government and public offices; public agency
unexpected (but welcome) visitor; rare guest
visit (from someone); call
on duty; at work; while working
race game (board game played with dice in which the object is to reach the end of a track); ban-sugoroku; sugoroku; traditional Japanese board game similar to backgammon
mass; mass (media, production, etc.); masturbation
spot check; snap inspection; surprise test
descent; fall; drop; decline; downturn; subsidence
to continue; to keep going; to go along (e.g. with some trend)
chubby; slightly overweight
what kind of; what sort of; what; no matter what (kind of); whatever; any
something said for politeness' sake; diplomatic language; honeyed words; lip service; empty compliment
so what?; what of it?; and?; why do you ask?
to be transparent; to be easily seen through; to be obvious; to be apparent
recommendation; endorsement
standard value; reference value; nominal value
to put (into); to put away (in); to pay (fees, taxes, etc.); to deliver; to accept (a gift or money); to keep (within a limit); to offer (to a shrine, deity, etc.)
collection (of fees, taxes, etc.); levy
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
living by oneself; living alone
unmarried person; bachelor; spinster
unsettled; uncertain; indefinite; indeterminate
common; commonplace; pulp paper; granulated sugar
to be given; to be granted; to be honored with; to give; to bestow; to confer
to mask; to cover; to cloak; to hide; to conceal
(period of) a year; during the era (of)
south wind tile; winning hand with a pung (or kong) of south wind tiles
adjacency; contiguity; being adjoined
of long standing; long-pending; long-cherished; for years (past); over a period of years; for a long time