insipid; flat; dull; lifeless; listless
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
to end in vain; to be wasted effort
idol (i.e. carving or painting of a deity)
mischief; prank; pastime; hobby; playing with (a lighter, etc.); fooling around with
suspicious glance; suspicious look; suspicious expression
sad; miserable; unhappy; sad; lamentable; deplorable
to be excited; to be elated
confidentially; privately; off the record
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
clue; lead; key; handhold; hold
to be blessed with; to be rich in; to abound in
to miss a chance; to miss an opportunity
to give a little chuckle; to let out a giggle
to gather up; to scrape up together; to rake
to carry something out of a place; to elevate (someone) to a high position; to convince someone to accept a post (esp. through flattery); to mention something; to broach a topic
to mourn for; to grieve for; to condole with (the bereaved family, etc.); to hold a memorial service for; to hold a funeral service for
previous generation (e.g. one's parents); family predecessor; predecessor; previous age
start of a romance; beginning of love
dismissal (from a post); discharge; removal
visit; call; arrival (e.g. of spring); advent; news; tidings
to end one's life; to end one's days; to die
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
once; before; formerly; never yet; never before; first time
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
repair work; renovation work; restoration work
calm; quiet; gentle; moderate; reasonable; amicable
to weigh on one's mind; to trouble one's heart; to be concerned about; to worry about
increasing the number of staff; hiring more people
assistance; support; subsidy; supplement; auxiliary; subsidiary
to set foot into; to enter; to step inside; to cross the threshold
to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to patch (clothes); to mend; to add (e.g. charcoal to the fire); to replenish with
under the staircase; understairs
to cross (e.g. road); to traverse
restoration; repair; mending
teacher (to whom one owes a debt of gratitude); mentor; one's former teacher
matter; thing; affair; circumstance
up and down; lightly; nimbly; casually; (strolling about) without a care