Zen monk's early morning meal; refreshment; cakes; simple Chinese food; dim sum
xiaolongbao (eastern Chinese steamed bun); soup dumpling
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
history; pedigree; lineage
diversion into illegal channels; putting on the black market; selling through illegal channels
chief; main; principal; important
meanwhile; in the meantime; by the same token; in contrast
camp (supporters of a doctrine, party, etc.); faction (of a party); military camp; encampment; cantonment
in the end; on top of that
to have a lot of influence (in); to have clout (with); to be influential; to have contacts (in)
sharp-eared; keen-eared; quick-eared
strict (e.g. security); heavy (e.g. guard); showy; pretentious; impressive; imposing
crowd of people; great number of people; in great numbers
serious damage; injury or loss; heavy blow
unlicensed gambling establishment
management; administration; operation
front company (for an organized crime operation)
management; administration; operation; running (business); conducting
company; corporation; workplace
to force someone to clamp with their teeth; to force into someone's mouth (e.g. a gag); to wedge into a space; to inflict (a blow); to deal (a hit); to pull (a joke)
dummy corporation; front company; shell corporation
exposing; unmasking; laying bare
banker (gambling); bookmaker; person who runs a gambling den; manager; boss
this and that; one thing or another
bamboo steamer; steaming basket; wooden frame holder with reed base used to steam food over a pot; soba served on a small wickerwork tray; wickerwork tray (for serving soba)
smallish; on the small side; somewhat small; short swing of a bat, racquet, etc.
baozi; Chinese steamed bun
lotus flower; Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus); china spoon; lotus-shaped pedestal for a gravestone
to bite off; to gnaw through
renewal; update; innovation; improvement
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
if that is the case; if it becomes so; when it becomes so
god of pestilence; god who spreads infectious diseases; jinx; hoodoo; pest
subtle; delicate; difficult; complex; doubtful; questionable
he; she; samurai's attendant (in a var. of origami); type of popular song accompanied by dance from the Edo period
to forestall; to beat to the punch; to anticipate; to play the first move (e.g. in go)
temporary; provisional; interim; special; extraordinary; extra
partition; division; settlement of accounts; preliminary warm-up ritual; toeing the mark; directing
to make amends; to compensate for; to make up for