nucleus; backbone; medium-level; mid-level; main body (of troops); crack troops
convenient; favorable; favourable; expedient; expedience
to board; to embark on; to get into (a car); to march into; to enter
to be out of; to have no more at hand
thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts
shallow; superficial; slight (wound); light (sleep); short (time); early
convenient; handy; useful
infection; contagion; becoming infected
directly opposite; right in front
whim; vagary; capriciousness; eccentricity
hot (thing); passionate (feelings, etc.); ardent; hot (e.g. temper); zealous; enthusiastic; intense
rope; cord; line; grand champion's braided belt
(not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough; (not) sufficiently
to put back in a good mood; to cheer up
dignitaries; very important persons; VIPs
to take out; to carry out; to bring out from where it belongs; to mention something; to broach a topic; to bring up (a subject)
so; like that; that's right; indeed; let me see...
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy
educated; learned; schooled
poor-quality; shoddy; unskillful; inexpert; unlucky
will not do; do not; does not
retainer; attendant; escort
that is to say; so that means
lifetime; one's whole life; all through life
cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
to be too much for one; to find unmanageable; to be beyond one's control; to not know what to do with
pipe; tube; gun barrel; gun; cannon; well lining
expert; professional; master; woman in the nightlife business; demimondaine; geisha and prostitutes
barefoot; superior to (a professional, etc. in ability or achievement)
ability that outdoes (shames) professionals
to well up (of tears, anger, joy, etc.); to surge up (within oneself); to rise; to feel nauseated; to feel sick
getting closer; drawing nearer; being not much different; being near (age, skill, etc.); becoming close (i.e. friendly); becoming intimate
to stretch; to extend; to gain influence; to become stronger; to go further; to extend one's journey; to smooth out
to be greatly perplexed; to be at a loss; to be sorely troubled; to be greatly embarrassed
to turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
to meet; to face someone; to co-star; to appear together; to be matched; to face against
for the present; for the time being; for a while (from now); for some time (to come)
as (e.g. "do as one is told", "as we age we gain wisdom"); wherever (e.g. "wherever my fancy took me")
to accompany; to follow; to keep up with