aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
8000; eight thousand; many
growing (graph rising to the right); increasing; soaring; expanding
first come, first served; the early bird catches the worm
contest; competition; struggle; scramble
cash bonus; reward; bounty
winner-takes-all (system); taking everything (esp. winnings)
normal duties; (one's) regular work
like this; this sort; this way
mobilization; going into action; being dispatched; being sent out; being called in; turning out
summer vacation; summer holiday
narrow margin; slim margin
word ending; way of ending one's words; slip of the tongue; verbal mistake
defect; fault; flaw; deformity; deficiency; shortage
inevitable; necessary; certain; inevitability; necessity
to attract interest; to arouse someone's interest
ignorant of the ways of the world
dejectedly; dispiritedly; despondently; gloomily
secret savings; secret stash; money hidden away
miserable; wretched; lonely; dreary; shabby; comfortless
evening cicada (Tanna japonensis)
vermilion (colour); cinnabar
sitting while waiting; (according to the lunar calendar) an eighteen-day-old moon
light-emitting diode; LED
city at night; town at night; streets at night; nightlife district; drinking district
(formal) meeting with a view to marriage; interview with a prospective spouse
to say something is all right; to give the all-clear (e.g. to do something)
steward; butler; court official; deacon (Anglican, Lutheran, etc.)
real life; actual life; everyday life
guardianship; guardian; (theatrical) assistant; prompter
great debt of gratitude; great obligation
to not make good use of (e.g. advice); to disregard; to treat as useless; to treat with disdain
disinheritance; disowning
to be born (with); to be born (to be); to be destined