referral fee; introduction fee
extremely important; essential; vital; crucial
huqin (any Chinese string instrument played with a bow); (arch.) biwa (4 or 5-stringed Oriental lute)
to be seen from the point of view of an onlooker
debt collection; debt collector
to lose weight; to become thin; to wither away
(corporate) restructuring; downsizing; laying off people
office worker; company employee; company man; salaryman (stereotypical Japanese office worker)
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
(in) the middle of; (in) the midst of; (in) the course of; (at) the height of
translation; version (e.g. "English version")
another thing; other things; another man's property
to blink (one's eyes); to wink; to bat
unsightly; ugly; unseemly; indecent; deplorable; disgraceful
to scratch; to perspire; to shovel; to paddle
counter for jewels in a watch; counter for transistors, diodes, etc. in an electronic product
futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
substitute; replacement; stand-in; proxy; compensation; exchange
to sit down (and refuse to move); to sit-in (in protest)
to live up to (one's) expectations; to meet expectations
self-deprecation; self-derision; self-mockery; laughing at oneself
research establishment; research institute; laboratory
theme; topic; subject matter; motif; project; slogan
still; even now; to this day
lingering attachment; lingering affection; regret; reluctance; ruefulness
sensation; feeling; tendency; propensity
leisurely post; do-nothing job; sinecure
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
to shake each other's hands; to shake hands with each other
like-mindedness; (being of the) same mind; shared sentiment; comrade; fellow; kindred soul
outsider; someone outside of a group
noisy; boisterous; turbulent (era, etc.); troubled
to be jealous of; to envy; to begrudge
to be the ruin of (a person)
duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff); liability; onus
demotion; relegation; reduction in rank; degradation; downward move
to air; to dry; to drain (off); to drink up; to deprive of a role, job, etc.
contact network; phone tree; contact information for relevant people (in a given organization)