succession struggle; succession race
to fall behind; to lag behind; to lose (race, contest)
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
yearning; longing; aspiration; adoration; admiration
great erudition; extensive knowledge; vast stock of knowledge
to be fed up (with); to be tired (of); to be stumped; to be nonplussed; to wince; to shrink back
in short; in a nutshell; in a word; to cut a long story short
to speak unanimously; to speak in chorus; to speak in unison; to speak in one voice
(not) anyone; (not) a single person; no one; nobody
older brother; elder brother; brother (as older-brother figure in friendly and or work relationship); young man; buddy
hogging; having all to oneself; monopolising; monopolizing
danger; peril; hazard; risk
as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough; really; actually; ever
to succeed (in doing); to pull something off; to manage (to do a job)
greedy; avaricious; rapacious; insatiable
to receive; to get; to accept; to take; to interpret; to understand
dressing oneself; putting on clothes; embezzlement
common occurrence; everyday occurrence; not an uncommon case; normal thing; everyday affair
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off
to brave a danger; to take a risk
to assume the posture of praying; to press the palms and fingers of both hands together; to beg; to make a supplication; to see (something or someone of high status)
how long; how much; to what extent
recklessness; daredevilry; rashness; (arch.) long-lasting
to pierce; to penetrate; to sting (wound or sensitive area, etc.); to smart; to be infected (with vice); to be steeped (with prejudice)
fierce; intense; severe; violent; strong; vehement
on and after; as from; hereafter; thereafter; since
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
thought; imagination; mind; desire; wish; love
outrageous; monstrous; appalling; inordinate; overambitious
timidity; cowardice; prudence; pedantry
once in a lifetime; the first and last occurrence (event, experience) of one's lifetime
risky speculation; big gamble; large bet
at any rate; in any event; either way; anyway
your countenance (his ..., her ..., etc.)
having an audience with someone of very high social standing (e.g. the emperor)
emergency; extraordinary; unusual
rumour; rumor; report; hearsay; gossip; common talk
elder brother; one's senior; older man; man older than oneself
to hold in one's arms; to carry in one's arms; to have (problems, debts, etc.); to take on (a responsibility); to employ; to have (on one's staff)
to keep up (appearances); to smooth over (an error, etc.); to gloss over; to mend; to repair
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
warehouse; storehouse; cellar; magazine; granary; godown
economic; financial; economical; thrifty; frugal
poverty; need; destitution; having great difficulty with; struggling greatly with; being in distress
certain; some kind of; some sort of; of sorts