business conditions; the market; good (economic) times; prosperity; liveliness; energy
covered with; stained; smeared
to master (a skill); proprietor; manager; leader; chief; master (of arts, science, etc.); master (recording)
logs in bark; rough wood; unseasoned timber; new lumber
charge; cost; generation; age; era; a representative of; on behalf of
middle; halfway; half (of); one half; half (e.g. done, jokingly); partly
link; connection; filler; stopgap (job, budget, etc.); thickener (e.g. in cooking); thickening; hedging
leaving school during a term
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
to take a fancy to something; to be moved; to feel inclined to
competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
to impose (a tax, fine, etc.); to levy; to assign (a task, duty, etc.); to give; to set
victory; triumph; conquest; success; win
showy; brilliant; gorgeous; florid; gay
plain; simple; reserved (behaviour, attitude, etc.); modest; quite; a (little) bit
maniac (as in rabid sport fan); enthusiast
class; heading; group; category
to raise; to lift; to boost; to enhance
praise; admiration; commendation; approbation
to like; to be pleased with; to be delighted with; to take a liking to; to suit one's fancy
used; second-hand; old; Middle Ages (in Japan esp. Heian period)
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
to stiffen; to become stiff
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)