today; this day; these days; recently; nowadays
preliminary inspection; having a look in advance; preparatory read-through (e.g. of lesson notes); siding (on a house); clapboard
stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
door (Western-style, car, etc.)
apartment building; apartment block; apartment house; apartment
stairs; stairway; staircase
contract; compact; agreement
real estate company; real estate firm; property firm
studio apartment; studio flat
firm; strong; unbending; unyielding; uncompromising; stubborn
to insist; to assert; to be obstinate in saying
in short; in a word; to sum up; to put it simply; to make a long story short; after all
rebar; (iron) reinforcing bar; reinforcing steel; reinforced concrete
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
... years since construction; ... years old (of a building); built in ...
how many years; how long; what year
and; besides; because; since; the thing is; for one thing
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news
careful; cautious; prudent; discreet; deliberate
to avoid (physical contact with); to avoid (situation); to ward off; to avert; to put aside; to move out of the way
anyhow; at any rate; anyway; somehow or other; generally speaking; in any case
corresponding to (in meaning, function, etc.); being equivalent to; appropriate; suitable; to be proportionate to; to be in keeping with
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
wall; partition; barrier; obstacle; Chinese "Wall" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
filthy; dirty (looking); drab
to burn; to be roasted; to be heated; to be jealous; to be envious
ceiling; ceiling price; (price) ceiling
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
lighting (a lamp); turning on a light
fluorescent lamp; fluorescent light; person who is slow to react; someone slow on the uptake
to exchange; to swap; to barter; to replace; to substitute
consequence; outcome; result; blame
not only ... but (also); as well as ...
electricity; (electric) light
model; type (e.g. of machine, goods, etc.); type; style; mold (mould); template; kata (standard form of a movement, posture, etc. in martial arts, sport, etc.)