(Japanese) empress; queen
emperor (of Japan); mikado
adopted daughter; foster daughter
brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband); older stepbrother
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
in form; ceremonial; for form's sake; pro forma
advance warning; previous notice; announcement; herald; harbinger; forerunner
returning home; visiting one's parents; new bride's first visit to parents
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
invitation; introduction; temptation
naturally; not surprisingly; it should be appreciated that; understandably; as a matter of course; as is obvious
to have meaning; to be meaningful
popular; folksy; plebeian; ordinary; unpretentious
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.)
unheard-of; unprecedented; unparalleled in history (unparallelled); record-breaking
to differ; to vary; to disagree
brothers and sisters; siblings
itemization (of expenses); the items; breakdown; classification
thin (e.g. air); diluted; sparse; lacking (e.g. empathy); deficient; insufficient (e.g. zeal)
to match (rhythm, speed, etc.); to join together; to unite; to face; to be opposite (someone); to compare; to check with
confinement; imprisonment; incarceration
youngest brother; last disciple
rehabilitation; reinstatement; restoration of rights
seeds; producer-driven solutions; ideas, products, services, etc. proposed by a company to consumers
wedded life; married life
to call (someone) back; to recall; to call home; to bring back (memories, etc.); to recall; to revive
meeting; assembly; party; society; association; club
to hold (an event); to give (a dinner, party, etc.); to feel (sensation, emotion, call of nature, etc.); to show signs of
end; tip; end (of the year, month, etc.); close; youngest child; descendants; offspring
hearsay; rumor; grapevine
ring; circle; hoop; wheel; circle (e.g. of friends)
somehow or other; for some reason or another; without knowing why
to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
suddenly; all of a sudden; abruptly
interest; eagerness; enthusiasm
May; fifth month of the lunar calendar
hot; warm; passionate; impassioned; on everybody's mind; on the radar
summertime; summer season
September; ninth month of the lunar calendar
October; tenth month of the lunar calendar