upper stratum (classes, stories, storeys); upper layer; layer above
smuggling (people); stowing away
forcibly; against one's will
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
to hold in one's arms; to bring over a person to one's side; to involve
inside a car (train, bus, etc.)
to hang over; to shroud; to enshroud; to envelop; to screen
after all; anyway; actually; well, ...; ... on earth (e.g. "what on earth?"); ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")
riding; ride; spread (of paints); -seater (e.g. two-seater); (getting into the) mood; (entering into the) spirit
limited express (train for which a limited-express ticket is required); limited express (train making a limited no. of stops); great hurry
high speed; rapidity; rapid-service train (not as fast as express); rapid train
railway station; train station; staging post on a highway (in pre-modern Japan); counter for railway stations and bus stations
taking advantage of (a convenient situation)
to replace; to exchange; to interchange; to substitute
to twine around; to twist around; to coil around; to pester; to hassle
to be caught; to be captured; to be taken prisoner; to be seized with (fear, etc.); to be a slave to; to stick to
obedient; submissive; tame; slavish
selection; choice; picking out
to impose; to visit upon; to inflict
to inlay; to set; to stud (e.g. star-studded sky); to enchase (something) with; to mount (gems)
dullard; indecisive person
if it is not ...; if it does not ...
to curry favour; to butter up; to fawn over; to humour someone (humor); to put in a good mood (e.g. a baby)
sense for (how to use) money; money sense
haughty; arrogant; supercilious
high class; esteemed; cherished
to spread out; to lay out; to take a position; to impose widely (e.g. over a city)
bloodshed; bloody event; bloody violence
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
adaptation; accommodation; conformity
to drop; to lose; to let fall
delicacy; tact; considerateness; sensitivity; thoughtfulness
to be at a loss for words
pump-priming; rousing; stimulation
joint; seam; joining point
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years