to sprain; to twist; to dampen (enthusiasm); to discourage; to dishearten
retreating figure; appearance from behind
description; describing; depicting
dirty smoke; soot and smoke
ume orchard; plum orchard; plum garden
to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to have a good command of (a language); to play proficiently (of a musical instrument); to work (a puppet); to pull the strings of a puppet
counter for small animals; counter for rolls of cloth (two han in size); (arch.) counter for horses; roll of cloth
poisonous spider; venomous spider; wolf spider
reverse movement; retrogression; going backwards; retrogradation; retrogression
shrewd; astute; cunning; alert
steady; sound; reliable; solid
to pull out; to draw out; to disconnect; to steal contents of; to pilfer (from); to pickpocket
to offer; to present; to serve (food and drink); to offer (to the gods); to set up (before an altar)
moment by moment; hour by hour
dear (old); fondly-remembered; beloved; missed; nostalgic
friendly; easy to get on with; easy to talk to; easy to like
extreme foolishness; grave stupidity; big fool; damn idiot; utter fool
nth son; lang; official title in ancient China; (arch.) man; (arch.) young man; (arch.) my husband
completely; absolutely; totally; (not) at all
separate; scattered; apart
to do; to commit; to accomplish; to achieve
worthy opponent; worthy rival; good match
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
dispute; strife; quarrel; dissension; conflict; rivalry
indicate reason; infers some protest
anyone; anybody; everyone; everybody; whoever
to help; to assist; to aid; to contribute to; to be a factor in
collision; bumping into; head-to-head training; drill consisting of pushing and being pushed; battering practice
inspiration; afflatus; ability to sense the supernatural (esp. ghosts, etc.)
mishmash; miscellany; medley; jumble; mixture; odds and ends
significant; useful; meaningful; worthwhile; valuable; of interest
to take a step backward; to retreat a step
kowtowing; bowing repeatedly; (lit.) three kneelings and nine prostrations
absolutely; unconditionally; never (with neg. verb)
many; much; majority (of); greater part (of); mostly; mainly
feigned ignorance; pretending not to recognize (somebody); unconcerned air; indifference
to shut oneself in (e.g. one's room); to be confined in; to be filled with (emotion, enthusiasm, etc.); to fill the room (of a gas, smell, etc.); to be heavy with (e.g. smoke); to be muffled (e.g. voice); to hold (a castle, fortress, etc.)
the teens (10-19); teenage; the tenth generation