breakdown (of talks, negotiations, etc.); breaking off; rupture
timid; weak-kneed; fainthearted; bearish
liquid; beverage; food with high water content (esp. sorbet or fruit served as a dessert in a kaiseki dinner); gamble; uncertain affair
to persevere; to keep at something (regardless of one's fatigue)
the way it was; the way it used be; as of old; in former times
to save an enemy from trouble instead of taking advantage of their weakness; to show humanity even to one's enemy; to help one's enemy in difficulty
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
unprecedented; never seen before
subtle seasoning that brings out the flavor; secret ingredient
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; victory; strictness; cruelty
unexpectedly; surprisingly; unexpected; unanticipated; unforeseen
laboratory testing bench; laboratory table; subject of an experiment; (human) guinea pig
charge; duty; person in charge; connection; linking
to keep a watchful eye on
what is it (that); the meaning of something; what something is about
to mark the end; to spell the end
to turn; to rotate; to go around; to circle; to make the rounds (of); to go around (several places); to go by way of
to run swiftly; to speed; to dash; to charge ahead (in pursuit of some goal); to push forward
occupational ability; function; role
setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
to be absorbed in thought; to muse; to muse about; to think things through
to be late; to be unpunctual
official certification; official approval; certification examination; licensing examination; hypothesis testing
exercises; practice problem
inorganic matter; inorganic substance; inorganic compound
individual; distinctive; unique; characteristic; personal; idiosyncratic
to serve as a reference; to provide useful information; to be helpful; to be informative; to be instructive
to be based on; to take into account; to build upon; to have one's feet firmly planted on; to plant oneself on
if one is unlucky; if one is careless; if things don't go well
of great promise; with a promising future
veteran (in a particular field); person with a lot of experience; old hand
probity check; background investigation
mixture; jumble; blend; making a cord by entwining threads of various colours
to not match well (e.g. at the seams); to not mesh properly (of gears); to differ (e.g. of opinions); to clash; to be in conflict (e.g. with the facts)
broken; interrupted; disconnected; intermittent; fragmentary; discontinuous
take (e.g. in film-making)
unproductive; counterproductive
something or other; anything