empty (e.g. argument); insubstantial; hollow; fruitless
to watch over; to watch attentively
narrow-minded; obstinate; stubborn; perverse; unreasonable; warped
friction; rubbing; chafing; discord; friction; strife
one-by-one; separately; every single; each and every; without omission
to pick up; to adopt (e.g. a proposal); to accept; to take away; to confiscate; to deliver (a baby)
inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into); investigation; search; exploration
scrutiny; digging into; excavation; inquiry into; enquiry into; prying
dull; uninteresting; insignificant; unimportant; absurd; foolish
rumour; rumor; hearsay; report
to puzzle; to perplex; to bewilder; to delude; to mislead; to fascinate
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
mistake; error; accident; mishap; improper conduct (e.g. between man and woman); indiscretion
else; in addition; on top of that; furthermore; further; besides
to press for an answer; to shower questions on someone
to poison (e.g. food, drink); to administer poison
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
to draw near; to draw closer; to press (e.g. for an answer); to hound
embezzlement; misappropriation; usurpation
for that very reason; that is exactly why ...; as expected; just as one thought; sure enough
ticket; token; label; tag; sign; card; playing card
to remove; to eliminate; to eradicate; to exclude; to except
direct descent; direct line
in good health; alive and well; going strong
second (party to an agreement); the B party (e.g. in a contract); stylish; chic; strange; quaint
to impose; to visit upon; to inflict
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
world; society; life; lifetime; age; era; reign
peace; tranquility; tranquillity; (arch.) happy-go-lucky
with a feeling of relief; with a sigh of relief; deeply (sigh)
indeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very
theory; doctrine; opinion; view; rumour; rumor
answer; reply; response; answer; solution; result
to spread; to propagate; to popularize; to broaden; to extend; to widen
if there is a chance; if possible; if circumstances permit; if things go well; if luck is on my side
strife; riot; (media) uproar; brouhaha; feud; tussle
to roll up; to enfold; to swallow up; to involve; to drag into
plan; policy; means; fifth principle of the Eight Principles of Yong; right upward flick
to go around; to return; to surround; to concern (usu. of disputes)