direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
main question; real issue at hand
union; alliance; combination; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
no sooner ... than ...; hardly ... when ...; as soon as
to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to hear about; to hear of; to follow (advice, order, etc.)
prey; catch; kill; spoils; trophy; loot
to bring to naught; to bring to nought; to abuse (esp. another's kindness); to empty; to clear
dangling; aimlessly; casually; unexpectedly
to smile cheerfully; to crack a smile
to scheme; to plan; to play a trick; to invent; to conspire; to frame up
tactful; adroit; shrewd; clever; smart; affable
to respond; to satisfy; to accept; to comply with; to apply for
tough; strong; stiff; tenacious
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
November; eleventh month of the lunar calendar
fifteenth day of the month; fifteen days
one eye; one of one's eyes
full portrait; whole aspect; full story
plan; project; attempt; plot; scheme; undertaking
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)
advance (into a new market or stage of progress); launching (a new career or venture); expanding (into a new market); stepping forward; emerging
obstacle; impediment; hindrance; handicap; impairment; disability
to drag down; to pull down; to force out (of power, office, role, etc.)
to graze (e.g. bullet); to scratch; to touch lightly; to take a percentage; to exploit; to squeeze
open; public; official; overt
puppet; marionette; puppeteer; (arch.) prostitute
to place (in position); to fix; to install; to seat (someone); to settle (upon something); to fix (e.g. one's gaze)
(one's) speech; expression of views; discussion
after this; from now on; hereafter; thereafter; since (then); after