depression; low spirits; luxuriant (of vegetation)
alas; regrettably; to my great regret; tragically
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
to suffice; to serve the purpose; to be satisfied
bluntly (refusing, etc.); flatly; out of hand; completely
acknowledgement; acknowledgment; understanding (e.g. "please be understanding of the mess during our renovation"); noting; acceptance
one's seniors and juniors; seniority-based hierarchy
first day (e.g. at work, school); day one
like everyone else; like most people; like an ordinary person; as much as anyone else
wages; pay; rental payment
office hours; business hours; working hours
daily allowance; daily wages
hostess bar; bar with female companions for male customers
to tread on thin ice; to go out on a limb; to walk a tightrope; to take risks; (lit.) to cross a dangerous bridge
municipality; local government; self-governing body; autonomous body
to check through; to thoroughly investigate
characteristic quality; special character; one's function; one's duty; fief; inherited estate
relationship of mutual trust; fiduciary relation
to be profitable; to yield a profit
to put on track; to make go to plan; to put into orbit; to send into orbit
anonymity; using an assumed name
boy; bellboy; porter; waiter
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
every month; each month; monthly
to fall fast asleep; to be confined to one's bed; to be laid up
quantity; amount; volume; number; amount of money
reliability; trustworthiness; dependability
the strait gate (in the Bible); the narrow gate; high barrier (to enter a highly competitive school, company, etc.); difficult hurdle; difficulty
fully fledged; full-fledged; proper; competent; qualified; full-grown
showy; brilliant; gorgeous; florid; gay
(how) many times; (how) often
to bewitch; to confuse; to enchant; to delude
(company) director; executive; top management; important post; role with heavy responsibilities
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
to pretend to be tough; to put on a brave front; to whistle in the dark; to bluff