elementary level; beginner level
upper class; upper echelons of society; the rich and powerful; the elite
basis for decision; evidence for judging
to thrust at someone (e.g. a weapon); to point (a gun, knife, etc.) at; to hold up threateningly to (someone's face); to present forcefully (demand, document, etc.); to confront someone with (evidence, facts, etc.); to force upon
relatives; one's family; friends; members of the same organization; followers; henchmen
admirable; commendable; praiseworthy; laudable; brave; heroic
happiness; well-being; joy; welfare; blessedness
to warn against; to caution against; to admonish; to scold; to prohibit; to forbid; (arch.) to be cautious
elimination (of a person, group, etc.); killing off; denial (of an opinion, fact, etc.); ignoring; erasure (of writing); rubbing out
landlord; landlady; house owner; home owner; head of the household
to see to it that ...; to make sure that ...; to try to ...; to make an effort to ...
since; for the past ... (e.g. ten years); this person; this gentleman
to torment; to punish; to treat harshly; to beat up; to give a drubbing; to cause damage to
to infuriate one's superior; to incur the anger of one's boss; to bring (a superior's) wrath down upon one; to incur the Imperial wrath; to offend the Emperor; (lit.) to touch the scale on a dragon's throat
acutely (feel); keenly; severely; tightly; hard
being dealt a bad hand; poor (handwriting); unscrupulous
to soften; to calm down; to be eased; to be mitigated; to subside; to abate
difficult to approach; inaccessible
blood relationship; blood relative
as (one pleases, one is told, etc.); wherever (e.g. one's feet take one); according to
hoot hoot; tu-whit tu-whoo; oh!; I see; huh!
route; path; channel (e.g. sales, distribution)
to add (to); to add on; to append
noise (usu. unpleasant); interference (e.g. radio); static; gossip; irresponsible criticism
supervised; under surveillance
to raise an objection; to voice an opinion different from those of others
private; confidential; informal; secret; (within the) family circle; (on the) inside
education gap; achievement gap in education; educational inequality
correction; revision; redressing; rectifying
starting work (on); setting to work (on); commencing (a crime); playing (a move)
highest peak; highest mountain; greatest authority; most prominent person; pinnacle (e.g. of art)
(courteous) invitation; call
one's post; one's station; department; bureau; section
to act first; to act precipitously; to be rash; to get ahead of oneself; to jump the gun
influential person; man of importance
fame; popularity; reputation
castle (in place names); castle; fortress
writing; composition; essay; sentence
to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation