materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
showing no sign of; not giving the slightest indication of; saying nothing at all about; not breathing a word of
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to underestimate; to make light of
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; victory; strictness; cruelty
shh!; shush!; hush!; shoo!; scram!
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
to lower one's voice; to speak with a hushed voice
arrangement; good offices; discretion; judgment; disposition
to roughen (e.g. one's attitude); to raise (one's voice)
staying somewhere (overnight) due to circumstances
to settle (in a place); to settle down
intently; single-mindedly; devotedly; solely; earnestly; with all one's heart
to rummage through; to ransack (e.g. a drawer); to throw into confusion; to disrupt; to upset
quickly; promptly; immediately; indifferently; coldly
about; roughly; generally; on the whole; completely; quite
employee (of a store); shop assistant; clerk; salesperson
change of job; change of occupation; career change
dawn; daybreak; event (e.g. "in the event of ..."); occasion; occurrence
dismissal (of an employee); discharge; firing; layoff
to rush back; to run back
elder sister; effeminate man
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
firm; solid; steady; secure; unshakeable; unwavering
as much as one can; as much as possible
wallet; purse; coin purse; billfold; pocketbook
to tear off; to pluck off; to take forcibly
just what you'd expect from ...; that's just like (him, her, etc.); that's (exactly) why ...; that's (precisely) the reason ...
order (for an item); request; demand; condition
simple; plain; uncomplicated; straightforward; simple-minded; naive
furnished with; including; attached to; impression; appearance; luck; sociality
one (thing); one piece; one item
rate; ratio; comparatively; contrary to expectations
provocative; incendiary; inflammatory; suggestive; lascivious; risqué
sure to ...; certain to ...; bound to ...; it's natural that ...; it's obvious that ...
pride; dignity; self-worth
battle; war; fight (against time, poverty, etc.); struggle (for freedom, survival, etc.); contest; competition
resolute; firm; dauntless; undaunted
to buy; to purchase; to buy out