unprecedented; record-breaking
boom; rage; fad; boom; cross-arm
to create (a sensation); to give rise to (controversy)
sales; selling; marketing
cooperation; tie-up; joint business; partnership; alliance; sponsorship
truth; reality; truly; really; absolute truth
(degree of) seriousness; level of commitment
great teacher; great master; great author; great doctor
to grow timid; to cower; to become perverse; to become contrary; to be cramped; to be constrained
leader of a delegation (body, party)
lack of innovation; stupidity
wearing one's hair in braids
regular matches in an official tournament
that's true; of course; obviously
indicate reason; infers some protest
rank; ranking order; hierarchy
fifth court rank; black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax); night heron; five ranks; five stages
status; position; method; way; rule; regulation
no objection; nothing to criticize; nothing to criticise
merchant; trader; tradesman; dealer; shopkeeper
even a little; any at all; if only a little; no matter how little
substantial; real (as opposed to nominal)
connection; link; relationship
capable person; talented person; human resources; personnel
secret intention; ulterior motive; kanji "heart" radical at bottom
quotient; dealing; dealer; second degree (of the Japanese and Chinese pentatonic scale); Shang dynasty (China, approx. 1600-1046 BCE); Yin dynasty
floating ball of fire (said to be the soul of a dead person); meteor; shooting star
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
as a test; as an experiment; by way of experiment; by way of trial; tentatively
test; trial; probation; ordeal; tribulation
in appearance; to look at; judging from appearances
outstanding talent; person of exceptional talent; gifted person
marriage of convenience; marriage for political reasons
to inherit; to succeed; to take over