have to (verb); must (verb); is indispensable; absolutely necessary
to count on; to expect; to put confidence in; to trust in; to depend on
to lament; to grieve; to regret; to deplore
to shake one's head (in denial)
softly; gently; stealthily; secretly; to leave alone; to leave as it is
whispering into a person's ear
(animal) feed; fodder; pet food; bait; lure; enticement
to distract one's attention
armaments; military preparations
ratio; proportion; match; equal; explicit comparison (style of the Shi Jing); Philippines
(arch.) it is not so; no; never mind
how; in what way; how about
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
(world of) politics; political world; political circles
relation; connection; affinity
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
leading; foremost; preeminent; outstanding; one of the best
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
arms buildup; military expansion
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
cornerstone; main point; requirement; need; necessary; required
deep knowledge; attainments; scholarship
deep; profound; dense; thick; close (relationship); intense; strong
reinforcement; augmentation; strengthening; increase; buildup
by virtue of one's office; in the nature of one's duties
(unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario); (lit.) 10000 to 1; (if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that
to be tired of; to be sick of; to get fed up with
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
to lose (something); to mislay; to get rid of; to eliminate; to remove
anticipation; expectation; plan; preparation
to mediate; to intervene; to smooth
fate; chance; relationship; tie
guess; conjecture; surmise
to be of use as a reference; to be helpful
to the last; persistency; thoroughness
insurrection; mutiny; rebellion; revolt; uprising
to furnish with; to equip with; to prepare for; to make preparations for; to possess (all that is needed); to be endowed with
to be possible; to be likely; to be probable