to try to ...; to be about to do ...; to decide to ...; to take as; to treat as; to use for; to suppose that (such) is the case
although; despite; whereas; while; if only; I wish
spoiled; spoilt; ruined; wasted (chance, etc.); messed up; destroyed
in any case; regardless; either way; since it makes no difference anyway (you might as well ...); since it won't change the outcome; if you are doing it regardless
Mr; Mrs; Miss; politeness marker
candidate; contender; prospect; candidacy; candidature; nomination
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to understand; to comprehend; to become clear; to be known; I know!; I think so too!
always; all the time; never; usual; regular
like; similar to; as with; in the same way
relation; relationship; participation; involvement; influence; effect
each place; various places
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
to miss (doing); to fail (to do); to do without
thank you; thanks; much (thanks); very (sorry); quite; really; somehow
vote; ballot; label; ticket; tag
to read; to recite (e.g. a sutra); to chant; to predict; to guess; to pronounce; to read (e.g. a kanji)
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
I wonder; do you think?; I might; some kind; some stage; somehow
rare; uncommon; new; novel; fine; nice
to apply pressure (on); to bring pressure upon; to lean on
in the first place; to begin with; after all; anyway; beginning; start
results; record; grades; marks
outstanding; excellent; exceptional; distinguished; unrivaled; surpassing (e.g. beauty)
good; advantage; sake; purpose; consequence; result
tacit approval; tacit permission; connivance; acquiescence; toleration; overlooking
tendency; trend; inclination
older sister; elder sister
but; however; even; however; no matter how; ... or something; either ... or ...
approximately; about; to (about) the extent that; (almost) enough that; as ... as ...; like
don't you think?; indicates question
complaint; grumbling; objection; phrase; words; expression
occasionally; once in a while; now and then
I wonder; should I?; is it?; I wish that; I hope that
seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity
to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to hear about; to hear of; to follow (advice, order, etc.)
while; even though; despite
small-sized; small-scale; miniature; small; little; tiny
because; as; since; because of that; therefore; accordingly
this sort of; this kind of; like this; such