startup; booting up; activation; starting (e.g. engine, computer); launch
mental preparedness; being braced for; being steeled for
to give one's name; to introduce oneself; to announce one's candidacy
to sink (into); to get depressed
light; faint; pale; fleeting
mincing; chopping finely; short and repeated (movements) (e.g. trembling, stepping quickly); gradual; bit by bit
not bad; not half bad; pretty good
unmeasurable; impossible to measure
feeling uneasy; very worried; very anxious; on tenterhooks; on pins and needles
debt trap; debt hell; being in debt up to one's ears
My goodness!; Good lord!; Holy cow!
to be urgent; to be pressing; to be imminent
to take more time than expected; to take a long time; to be delayed
to regain one's footing; to get back on one's feet; to recover; (of the market) to improve
to cross (legs or arms); to link (arms); to put together; to construct; to braid; to plait; to grapple
to gather (attract, receive) attention; to have a high profile; to gain prominence; to become popular
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
to herd; to drive; to corner; to force someone into doing; to go hard; to push yourself
to wear away; to rub down; to abrade
marathon training in physical education classes in Japanese schools
to give up; to admit defeat; to throw in the towel
penance; austerities; mortification; asceticism
direction; orientation; suited to; suitable for; tendency; inclination
endurance; perseverance; patience
being used to ...; getting used to ...; being accustomed to; being conditioned to; be familiar with
absolutely essential; indispensable; vital; critical
last night; yesterday evening
outskirts; environs (of a city); surrounding area; surroundings
this occasion; at this time; now
excuse; explanation; justification; defense; defence
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
construction; building; putting up; erecting; creation; formulation
number of persons; personnel
infiltration; sneaking in; going undercover
blackened; black-painted; black-lacquered; blackened thing
to sit at a desk (to study); to set to work on revision, homework, etc.
careful reading; reading thoroughly; perusal
small quantity; small amount; narrowmindedness
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair