up until now; as recently as the present
plot; intrigue; scheme; conspiracy
acting according to one's own beliefs, being undisturbed by others
by nature; naturally; by birth; inborn
obligation; favour; favor; debt of gratitude
aspiration; ambition; plan; hopes; wishes
political measures; policy
to carry something out of a place; to elevate (someone) to a high position; to convince someone to accept a post (esp. through flattery); to mention something; to broach a topic
certain amount; some; certain person; Mr So-and-so; (arch.) I; (arch.) me
supremacy; predominance; being superior to
natural (e.g. talent); innate; inborn; inherent
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
to bestow (esp. of a god); to grant
to pull up; to drag up; to increase; to raise (e.g. taxes); to withdraw; to leave; to promote (someone to a higher position)
ball; sphere; bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; ball (in sports); pitch (e.g. in baseball); pile (of noodles, etc.)
to be closed; to be blocked; to be clogged; to be plugged up; to be occupied; to be taken (e.g. accommodation)
messenger; envoy; emissary
having a headache; racking one's brains; troubling over something
to look old; to become time-worn; to become worn out; to become old and grubby; to become musty
riding; ride; spread (of paints); -seater (e.g. two-seater); (getting into the) mood; (entering into the) spirit
vague; obscure; dim; indistinct; ambiguous
to melt together; to blend together
to be affectionate towards; to show tenderness towards; to treat tenderly; to love
August; eighth month of the lunar calendar
to dash over oneself (e.g. water); to take (e.g. shower); to bask in (e.g. the sun); to suffer (e.g. an attack); to draw (e.g. criticism, attention, praise); to have heaped upon
twilight; sunset; dusk; evening
hour; o'clock; (specified) time; when ...; during ...
light from outside; natural light
contour; outline; summary; outline; looks; features
East Asian lacquer; japan; Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly Rhus verniciflua)
to paint; to spread; to plaster; to apply (cream, lotion); to smear; to lacquer
with a whizzing sound; with a whistling sound; sound of something whizzing by
spreading; laying out; security deposit; Japanese mattress
national ownership; state ownership; government ownership