origin; source; beginning; starting point
to consider; to eye the possibility (of); to bring into view
to extend; to stretch out; to attend; to participate in; to enrol; to enroll
talking in one's sleep; somniloquy; nonsense; gibberish
half asleep and half awake; trance; dream and reality
15th day of the 8th lunar month; eighth month of the lunar calendar
to achieve; to win; to gain; to attain
staff member; employee; worker; personnel
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; around; about; round about
intimacy; friendship; friendly relations
assistant; associate; duplicate; copy; adverb
rear guard; reserve troops
to put oneself in (situation, environment, etc.); to surround oneself with
recommendation; referral; endorsement
to devote all one's energies; to give one's everything; to put in all one's effort
holding out for a short while; putting up resistance for a while; briefly holding one's own
distant place; faraway location; far away
advantage; benefit; merit; good point; plus
to throw into disorder; to disarrange; to disturb (order, peace, etc.); to corrupt (public morals); to dishevel (hair)
preparation; provision; defenses; guard; military formation; troop arrangement
to leave nothing undone; to give good service; to attend to everything; to be on someone's tracks (e.g. police); to catch up with; to close in on
spontaneous discharge; sudden outburst; accidental gun discharge
candidate; contender; prospect; candidacy; candidature; nomination
at the critical moment; when the time comes; when it's most important; when necessary; in an emergency; when push comes to shove
cheerful; merry; sunny; bright (sky, day, etc.); fine; clear
to think of as the main point; to make the main purpose; to put the focus on
(foreign) trade; (international) commerce; importing and exporting
young person; youth; young
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
sham battle; mock battle; dry run; military exercise; war game
meeting place; assembly hall
awareness that one is not good at something; feelings of inferiority
absence; disregard; indifference
viewing as a problem; problematizing
empty seat; unoccupied seat; vacancy; vacant post
unavoidable; inevitable; inescapable; hopeless; beyond help
to excel at; to be proficient at; to grow old; to ripen; to rise high (e.g. of the sun)
to win and advance to the next round