gap; difference; disparity; discrepancy
to gulp down (alcohol, poison, etc.); to quaff; to down
irritating; aggravating; upsetting; maddening; infuriating; exasperating
to hit (e.g. one's head); to strike; to throw (at); to fling (at); to vent (e.g. one's anger); to express (one's feelings)
calm; composed; cool; quiet
to think out; to devise; to invent; to begin to think; to come up with a plan
the facts; the truth; the true state of affairs; in truth; in fact; in reality
even so; anyhow; at any rate
public institution; public organization; official body
mechanism; machinery; system; structure; organization
to be preeminent; to be outstanding
exposure to wind; severe criticism
to be shrewd; to be sharp; to keep your wits about you; (lit.) to pluck out the eye of a live horse
escape; getting away (from); getting out (of); prolapse; proptosis
godsend; lifesaver; timely offer; windfall
stealing a march on; getting a head start; secretly acting before others; solo raid on an enemy's camp (for glory)
thirst; craving; thirst (for love, knowledge, etc.); hunger
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
nonexistent; nil; none; nothing (at all); bugger-all
to spoil someone's start; to kill someone's enthusiasm; to take the wind out of someone's sails
discovery; detection; finding
to sink (into); to get depressed
point in question (at issue)
deviation; departure; (accidental) omission
speech; address; curtain speech; prologue; way of speaking; manner of speech
some; few; a number of; somewhat; to a certain extent; a bit
self-examination; reflection
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
look; appearance; spectacle; sight; observation meditation; outlook on ...
dimension; perspective; point of reference; level (of something)
to differ (in); to have different ...; to be different (in terms of ...)
to continue to hold; to hold on to (for a long period); to maintain; to keep
setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
environment; surroundings; circumstances
legless chair (used in a room with tatami flooring)
to rest; to suspend; to give relief
to take up one's chopsticks (to begin a meal); to start to eat; to eat
cooking; cookery; cuisine; dealing with (skillfully); handling (well); managing
mouthful; morsel; gulp; sip; one word; in short
research society; study class (e.g. religious); seminar (e.g. presentation of research)
starting; inauguration; launch; founding; establishment; start-up
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally
not long has passed since ...
admission (to a society, club, etc.); joining; entrance; enrollment; enrolment; becoming a member
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of a visitor's arrival); informing (someone) of a visitor's arrival