state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
to change; to be transformed; to move to; to be different; to be uncommon
higher rank; better position
reward; compensation; collateral; security; turning to look behind
the same rank; equality; apposition
advantages and disadvantages; interests (of parties)
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
relation; relationship; participation; involvement; influence; effect
knowledge; awareness; acceptance; consent; forgiving; pardoning
difficult to imagine; quite unlikely to; very doubtful; would not expect
because ...; for ...; the reason being ...; as for ...; when it comes to ...; regarding ...
Chinese "star" constellation (one of the 28 mansions); Singapore
to get to know each other; to make acquaintance
to build; to construct; to erect; to build up (a reputation, position, fortune, etc.); to establish (a relationship, household, tradition, etc.); to lay (a foundation)
grateful; thankful; welcome; appreciated; evoking gratitude
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
so far; up to now; hitherto; that's enough (for today); it ends here
almost; nearly; hardly; barely; large majority; large proportion
possible; potential; practicable; feasible
to excel at; to be proficient at; to grow old; to ripen; to rise high (e.g. of the sun)
receptionist; reception woman
to be better (than); to be superior; to surpass; to excel; to be excellent
to suddenly understand (esp. on basis of experience or memory); to come to mind; to recall (in a flash); to be reminded of; to call to mind; to think of
before one's eyes; in front of one; under one's nose; immediate; imminent; around the corner
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
story; tale; talk; discussion
to end; to come to an end; to finish; to complete; to finish doing; to be past its (one's) prime
to change; to alter; to reform; to correct; to examine; to check
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; thank you; you shouldn't have; it's too much
to be true to nature; to be lifelike
occasionally; once in a while; now and then
sharp (knife, claws, etc.); pointed; sharp (pain, tone, etc.); acute; keen (intuition, sense of smell, etc.); acute
consequence; outcome; result; blame; fault
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
influence; effect; impact
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
on a routine basis; regularly; habitually
glaringly; dazzlingly; blazingly