January; first month of the lunar calendar
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
official; formal; formula (e.g. mathematical); official (social media) account (of a company, organization, etc.)
talks (i.e. formal discussions); conference; meeting
(national) capital (city); metropolis
together; jointly; at the same time; with; both
faint, ironic or bittersweet smile
to burst (open); to break; to split
reaching a stopping place; settling down (before the next stage); getting to a point where one can rest; one paragraph
pensive (or worried) look on one's face
anxiously; impatiently; worriedly; fretting; getting worked up
strengthening of relations
indispensable; essential; requisite; required; compulsory; necessary
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
serious; earnest; honest; real; legit
to see through (a lie, scheme, etc.); to see into (someone's mind); to read (someone's true feelings); to penetrate
tolerance; open-mindedness; forbearance; generosity; magnanimity
state of things; state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
consideration; examination; investigation; study; scrutiny; discussion
tolerance; broad-mindedness
how (beautiful, tasty, etc.); what a ...; nothing worth mentioning; nothing special; of what name
for example; for instance; e.g.
material; materials; data; information; documents
(positive) economic effect
sound argument; fair argument; just reasoning
unsatisfied; unsatisfactory; insufficient in some way; lacking something
holiday; vacation; day off; time off; leave; furlough
around the clock; day and night
godsend; lifesaver; timely offer; windfall
to recommend (someone to do); to advise; to recommend (a book, someone for a position, etc.); to suggest; to offer (a drink, cigarette, seat, etc.)
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
full of confidence; brimming with (self-)confidence; having great faith in oneself
to handle (men); to master (a tool); to manage; to acquire a command of (a language)
to have two things (at the same time) (e.g. good and bad points); to also have something (in addition to something else)
I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
abundant; plentiful; rich; ample
to be no match for (e.g. outclassed in authority, strength or in debt to); to be unable to act on an equal basis with
to profit; to benefit (from); to benefit (someone or something); to be beneficial to; to make good use of; to take advantage of
to press forward; to forge ahead; to push on
lax; lenient; lukewarm; slow; sluggish