to tear up; to tear off; to rip up; to separate (e.g. a couple); to disrupt (a relationship)
soft, coaxing voice; wheedling voice; ingratiating voice
to badger; to pester; to beg
to shade an account; to add something extra
wedding ring; wedding band
marriage partner; spouse; wife-to-be; husband-to-be; future spouse
second grade; second class; secondary
remains; leavings; remnant; surplus
financial power; financial means; wealth
to bend; to flutter; to wave; to yield to; to be swayed by; to bow to
minute; detailed; careful; scrupulous; thorough
(random) guess; guesswork; shot in the dark; conjecture
smelling of mud or earth; unrefined; uncouth
security; guarantee; collateral (e.g. mortgage)
depression; recession; slump
piece of paper; slip of paper; strip of paper; scrap of paper
purveyor (to the government or Imperial Household)
decisive battle; deciding match; play-off
to make an appearance; to show up
fondly; admiringly; with fascination; with adoration; with enchantment
large stage; grand stage; the big stage; grand setting
splendid; magnificent; gorgeous
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
to be affected; to be influenced; to be concerned with; to have to do with; to stick to (opinions)
reduction by half; halving
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
to crack down on (e.g. crime, corruption); to deal a crushing blow to; to bring down the hammer on
odious; hateful; awful; horrid; revolting
shortening; contraction; reduction; curtailment; abbreviation
escort (e.g. under guard); convoy
cannibalism (in animals); feeding on each other; mutually harmful competition; internecine struggle; dog-eat-dog competition
loitering; roaming; sauntering; wandering about; prowling
perfectly ordered; perfectly coordinated
in order to; for the purpose of; must; should
bamboo stick used to strike meditators into greater wakefulness (in Zen Buddhism); striking someone's wrist with one's index and middle finger
curious; strange; unusual
entertainment (of guests; esp. in the corporate world); treating (to food and drinks); wining and dining