hard-to-overcome obstacle; high hurdle; (lit.) thick wall
private talk; confidential talk; secret talk
ventilation; draft; airing
cavern; cave; cave system; grotto
fraud; swindle; graft; saying you're going to do something but in the end not doing it; making promises without keeping them
hegemony; leadership; initiative
to jump at the chance; to accept an offer; to show interest in; to accept a proposal
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
distinction; differentiation; classification
one copy (of a document); one letter; one-way traffic; pure straight; winning hand containing nine consecutive tiles of the same suit (i.e. 1-9)
aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
truth or falsehood; genuineness; authenticity; veracity
God's will; heaven's decree; mandate of Heaven; one's life; one's lifespan
to be destroyed; to perish; to go out (e.g. fire); to destroy; to get rid of; to extinguish
existence; being; survival; to exist; to live; to survive
clever; smart; sharp (ear, etc.); sensitive; discerning
liver; innards; courage; spirit; crux; essential point
blood relationship; blood relative
business discussion; negotiation
negotiator; bargainer; point man
(not) so much; (not) that much
to change into; to convert to; to transform; to be reduced; to influence; to improve (someone)
ruin; wreck; mere skeleton; framework
walking sideways; staggering; striding; being rampant; being widespread; being prevalent
to abandon; to give up on; to desert
heavenly voice; off the record instructions; influential person's opinion; powerful person's verdict
war funds; war expenditures
(handling) fee; charge (e.g. for a cancellation); commission; brokerage
just a handful; only a small number (of)
though imperfect; somehow; somehow or other
manager; steward; factotum; useful person