composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
length of a blade; walking barefoot on the edge of a sword blade (acrobatic stunt)
shortish; rather short; somewhat short
based on; built on; made from
meticulous; careful; discreet; scrupulous; prudent
to take shape; to look good enough to be shown publicly
to run around; to bustle about
again and again; repeatedly
they; those guys; those fellows
drink money; alcohol expenses; tip; gratuity
well-cured sake; last year's sake; old sake
cancelling (a debt); forgiving (a debt); being even; forgetting (what was said or done); pretending (something never happened)
substitute; replacement; stand-in; proxy; compensation; exchange
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
to have a warped view; to be jaundiced; to feel that one has been unfairly treated; to be jealous; to be envious
palm (of one's hand); skill; (in one's) grip; (under one's) control; one's (concealed) intentions; one's cards
putting an idea into someone's head; suggestion; hint
to succeed to someone's post; to take someone's place; to take over someone's position; to step into someone's shoes
reforming (oneself); mending one's ways; turning over a new leaf
to have an audience; to meet; to face (an enemy); to confront; to serve (esp. as one's wife)
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
rehabilitation; reinstatement; restoration of rights
the present regime; the existing regime
opaque; obscure; opacity; obscurity; unclear; unpredictable
ignoring; bypassing; doing something without consultation; going over someone's head
to torment; to torture; to afflict; to harrow
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
command; commander; commandant
substitute (actor); stand-in; fill-in; understudy; double
suitable person; well-qualified person; responsible party; responsible person
betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
cessation; (coming to an) end
to follow; to shadow; to hanker after; to hover around
to become excited; to grow lively
replenishment; supplementation; supplement; replacement; refilling
(with) only a few left; (with) little left
ordinary; average; common; normal; like the average person; like most people