heavy blow; major blow; severe blow; serious damage
brink; verge; critical moment; crucial moment
a cornered rat will bite a cat; despair gives courage to a coward
revival from the brink of death; recovering from a hopeless situation; resuscitation; revitalization
ultimate; final; last; eventual
to invest in; to sink money into; to put into; to lay out (funds); to inject; to impregnate
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
grand; magnificent; lavish; forceful; powerful; vigorous
to beat; to attack (an enemy); to do away with; to finish off
awkward; uncomfortable; embarrassing
to break; to destroy; to wreck; to ruin; to break (a bill, etc.)
comparatively; relatively
repair; mending; fixing; servicing
living in peace; living a quiet life; being content with one's present position; being satisfied with one's lot
revival; reconstruction; restoration; rebuilding; recovery; renaissance
economic; financial; economical; thrifty; frugal
to point; to nominate; to select someone; to identify; to indicate; to play (a game of shogi)
people (of a country); nation; citizen; Democratic Party for the People
to spare; to grudge; to regret; to lament; to be reluctant (to do); to be unwilling
development; cultivation; application; exploitation (of resources)
support; backing; aid; assistance
interval; period of time; among; between; good opportunity; chance
dense; thick; close (relationship); intimate; minute; fine
meek; quiet; docile; mysterious; marvelous; marvellous
leadership conference; summit meeting; top-level conference
to assume an aspect; to take on an appearance
close (e.g. friend); familiar; familiar (e.g. story); well-known (to one); close (relatives); closely related
same feeling; same sentiment; same opinion; sympathy; agreement; concurrence
betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
national isolation; closing the country (to foreigners); sakoku; policy of national isolation enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate
constitution (physical); physical make-up; predisposition (to disease); character (of a group, organization, etc.); innate characteristics; make-up
to turn over a new leaf; to mend one's ways; to reform
to administer the affairs of state
opinion; intention; thought
to talk; to speak; to tell; to explain; to speak (a language)
to know; to be aware (of); to be acquainted (with); to think; to consider; to believe
making (a new suit, dress, etc.); having (something) made; buying new; new tune; new melody; new composition
ought to do; have to do; must do; feel obliged to
to drop by; to stop by; to drop in; to approach; to draw near; to come close (to)
mansion; palace; (arch.) nobleman; (arch.) noblewoman; (arch.) temporary residence
alone; by oneself; on one's own
having nothing except one's body; having empty pockets; being penniless
to make a fresh start; to turn over a new leaf; to call again; to visit again; to come again
to be blown off; to blow off; to blow away; to vanish; to disappear; to be dispelled
deposit and withdraw; taking in and out
vehicle; conveyance; (means of) transport; ride (at a fair, amusement park, etc.); attraction