one; 1; best; first; foremost; beginning; start
ratio; proportion; percentage
aviation; flight; flying; to fly; to take a flight
business; task; use; purpose; for the use of ...; used for ...
announcement; publication; presenting; statement; communique; making known
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
close; intimate; on good terms
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
to confide; to reveal; to disclose; to lay bare; to speak frankly; to open (one's heart)
to make use of aizuchi; to back-channel; to throw in interjections to show that one is paying attention
murmur; mutter; murmuring; tweet; Twitter post
to spill; to drop; to grumble; to complain; to let one's feelings show
contents; content; substance; matter; detail; import
astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
gathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance
actual spot; scene (of a crime, accident, etc.); (on) site; (on) the ground; filming location; (movie) set
absorbed in; immersed in; forgetting oneself; daze; within a dream; while dreaming
to look back on (the past); to reflect on; to look behind (at); to turn round (and look); to consider; to concern oneself about
be considered; be deemed; be thought to be
side (of something, or taking someone's side); part; (watch) case
the strait gate (in the Bible); the narrow gate; high barrier (to enter a highly competitive school, company, etc.); difficult hurdle; difficulty
to go under; to pass under; to dive (into or under the water); to evade; to get around; to survive
losers (those who have 'failed' socially, economically, etc.)
(distant) howling; backbiting
to disdain; to look down on; to make light of; to hold in contempt; to scorn; to despise
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
one way or another; in many ways; in various ways
on bad terms; at loggerheads
royal capital; imperial capital
bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy
tendency; trend; inclination
originally; by nature; from the start
influence; effect; to influence; to affect; to have an influence on
to keep away; to keep at a distance
fate; destiny; connection; tie; pretext; justification