barren; sterile; infertile; unproductive (e.g. discussion); fruitless
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
study; diligence; discount; reduction
mark; target; object; subject; point (e.g. of argument)
(husband and wife) both working; dual income
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
field; farm; rural; agricultural; stray (e.g. dog, cat); unauthorised (esp. smartphone application)
large stage; grand stage; the big stage; grand setting
to find out; to discover; to select; to pick out; to look out (from the inside); to be wide-eyed (in surprise, anger, etc.)
light; well-lit; bright (of a colour); brightly-coloured; cheerful; bright; encouraging (for the future of a project, etc.)
to take off one's hat to a person; to acknowledge another's superiority
tightly; closely; exactly; precisely; suddenly (stopping)
boss; leader; head; boss (difficult enemy, usu. at the end of a section or level)
completely (beaten, defeated, etc.); thoroughly; utterly; black and blue; to a pulp
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
juniors dominating seniors; inferiors overthrowing their superiors; retainer supplanting his lord
ghastly; gruesome; appalling; lurid
setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
cherry tree; cherry blossom; fake buyer; paid audience; hired applauder; horse meat
elevated walkway through the audience to the stage (kabuki); honourable end to a career
depending on; as soon as; immediately after; as (e.g. "as one is told", "as one wishes"); whatever (e.g. "whatever is at hand"); order; program
arriving at the present; present-day; to arrive at the present day
great (quantity, amount, etc.); huge; enormous; serious
contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
less than ...; smaller ...
feeling good; feeling at ease; feeling easy
sushi shop; sushi restaurant; sushi bar
escape from reality; escapism; ostrichism
logical; cogent; well-reasoned; logically consistent
reception (desk); information desk; receipt; acceptance
sickroom; hospital room; ward
cognitive impairment; senility; dementia
inattention; absent-mindedness
devastating; gut-wrenching; shocking; startling; sensational; astounding
sick person; patient; invalid
cavity; hollow; void; hollow (voice, smile, etc.); blank (eyes, look, etc.); vacant (expression, stare, etc.)
finally; after great pains; at last; just barely
to throw at; to turn; to raise
as expected; predictably; not surprisingly
to dig up; to dig out; to pick (nose, teeth); to clean out (ears)