troubled times; turbulent times
alliance (of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty, and of individual Kingdoms with the Qin dynasty); (tactic of) making and breaking alliances (to benefit oneself as the occasion demands); resorting to alliances as a diplomatic expedient
customer; client; client company; business connection; trade partner
with (the sound of) clashing swords; (arguing) fiercely; heatedly; vehemently
to fight (with); to cross swords; to compete (with); to argue (with); to have an argument; to have a dispute
achievement; performance; results; work; contribution
weekend; Saturday and Sunday
coming home after midnight; person who comes home after midnight
time; season; period; phase; stage
sense of fulfillment; sense of completeness; sense of accomplishment; sense of contentment
same period; corresponding period; same year (of graduation, entering a company, etc.); contemporary; synchronization; synchronism
leaving everything up to someone else
several steps; much (better, higher, etc.); several cuts (above)
in the style of (esp. literary, artistic, etc. works); reminiscent of; attached or stretched on
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
going to work (e.g. in the morning); coming to work
(my) wife; inside the home; one's family
dizzying (speed, changes, etc.); rapid; drastic; bewildering; hectic; bustling (e.g. world)
(opening a door) with a clatter; noisily; (falling) with a clatter; with a crash; (changing) completely; totally
rubbish; trash; garbage; refuse; litter
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
hereabouts; around there; that area
doddering; tottering; unsteady; shaky; decrepit; infirm
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
material; materials; data; information; documents
out-of-place; inappropriate; sticking out like a sore thumb; produced at an unorthodox location
to have a (rough) idea (of what the situation is)
attire; dress; clothes; clothing; costume; garb
to be sunburnt; to fade (in the sun); to become hot (from the sun)
shyness; bashfulness; shame
to keep (something) a close secret; to hide (the truth, one's pain, etc.); to keep hidden
to graze (e.g. bullet); to scratch; to touch lightly; to take a percentage; to exploit; to squeeze
to look daunted; to look embarrassed; to be disappointed
to guess; to sense; to presume; to sympathize with; to sympathise with
to distance oneself (from); to keep (something or someone) at a distance; to maintain a distance (from)
to glare at; to scowl at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully; to estimate; to guess
business; things to do; engagement; errand; affairs