close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
empty seat; unoccupied seat; vacancy; vacant post
the place one comes from; one's birthplace; one's hometown
to raise (to maturity); to bring up; to rear; to train; to educate
frame (e.g. of film, panel in a comic, etc.); scene; time block (e.g. of a class schedule)
haughty; arrogant; insolent; presumptuous
current administration; present government
reserves (esp. troops); reserve army; potential members of some group (e.g. the elderly); people at risk (e.g. of a medical condition); wannabees
sieve; sifter; screen; screening (jobs, candidates, etc.)
to dust; to remove dust; to slap; to hit (with the palm); to use up money
detector; detecting machine; detecting device
gauge; standard; length; size; (measuring) rule; scale
ruler; measure; measuring stick; standard; criterion; yardstick
creating a (favorable) environment; laying the groundwork; setting the stage
(mental) agony; anguish; suffering; distress
seal (used in lieu of a signature); stamp; chop
barren; sterile; infertile; unproductive (e.g. discussion); fruitless
meek; quiet; docile; mysterious; marvelous; marvellous
second; secondary; quadratic (function, equation, etc.); second-order; fictional (in relation to anime, manga, etc.); drawn
flatterer; toady; lackey; sycophant; flunky
no matter what; whatever happens; in any situation; rain or shine
to stab each other; to sacrifice oneself in order to harm someone else
to become late; to fall behind; to lag; to pass (of time)
letter of invitation; letter of recommendation; reference
power balance; balance of power
to be promoted to a higher rank
promissory note; written acknowledgment of debt; IOU
revolution; 58th year of the sexagenary cycle (in Onmyōdō)
atrocious crime; heinous crime
suitably; properly; duly; as you see fit; as you think best
outline; summary; gist; basic points
to get a load off one's chest; to be relieved of a worry
to take advantage of an opportunity
riches; wealth; resources; lottery
ethics; ethical viewpoint; moral value; sense of duty; sense of ethics
outflow; effluence; efflux; outflow (of people, capital, etc.); drain (of gold, talent, etc. from a country); leak (e.g. of personal information)
soliloquy; monologue; speaking to oneself