to become better; to improve
ulterior motive; plot; scheme; complicated circumstances; intricacies
habit (usu. a bad one); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
bright and beautiful; gorgeous; showy; prosperous; flourishing; thriving
on the contrary; rather; instead; all the more
to be noisy; to be astir; to be abuzz; to be in commotion; to be aflutter; to be unsettled
strategic arrangement of go stones at the beginning of a game; opening moves; preparations; preparatory steps; arrangements
critical moment; do-or-die situation; critical juncture
this (very thing); this precisely
proof; evidence; sign; witnessing; testifying; testimony
nature (of a person); sex; gender; sex (i.e. sexual attraction, activity, etc.); gender; -ty
foreign country; another country; another province; strange land; alien land
crackling; cracking; clapping; incessantly (blinking)
chance; start; opportunity; cause; reason; excuse
to put one's palms together (e.g. when praying or asking for something); to place one's hands together; to compete against someone; to play (a game, match, etc.) against someone
poverty; need; destitution; having great difficulty with; struggling greatly with; being in distress
that is (to say); namely; precisely; exactly; if one does ..., then; in that case
plot of land; lot; soil; locality; region; place
without compensation; without reward; without pay; free (of charge)
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
equality; impartiality; evenness
to extol; to sing the praises of; to celebrate; to declare; to stipulate; to express
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
to be blessed with; to be rich in; to abound in
abundant harvest; bumper crop
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
poor crop; bad harvest; crop failure; low quality (e.g. of literary works)
good; fine; excellent; favorable; favourable; satisfactory
fierce animal; beast of prey; big game
(surprise) attack; assault; raid; charge
subjugation (using military force); suppression; subduing
occupation; profession; job; vocation; career; trade
to stop talking; to break off; to pause
immediately; instantly; with nary a pause; without a moment's delay
in; at; on; as for; regarding; with regards to
ratio; proportion; percentage