about to start out; just about to leave or go out; outing; trip
the Dog (eleventh sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Dog (around 8pm, 7-9pm, or 8-10pm); west-northwest; ninth month of the lunar calendar
people close to the head man
birth; birthplace; born in (country, month, imperial era, zodiac year, etc.)
art; craft; accomplishment; artistic skill; technique; performance
diametric opposites; night and day; black and white; (lit.) snow and ink
two things that superficially similar but completely different; night and day; chalk and cheese; (lit.) the Moon and a turtle
reasonable (person); obedient (e.g. child); doing what one is told
to fly about; to skip about; to bustle about
to torment; to pain; to inflict (physical) pain; to harass; to cause (emotional) pain; to afflict
absence; being away from home; house-sitting; house-sitter; being left unattended to (of one's studies, etc.); neglecting
wartime fire; war; wartime destruction; horrors of war
to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still
to produce; to yield; to cause; to result from; to arise; to be generated
favorite phrase; favourite phrase; byword; something one always talks about
even though one has fallen on hard times; however down on one's luck one may be
of all people; a person of ...'s standing
right and wrong; right or wrong
kindness and affection; love
love; affection; attachment; craving; agape; Ireland
discussion; discourse; lecture; sermon
platform; podium; (ceremonial) mound; world (of haiku, art, etc.); (literary) circles; (arch.) mandala
on the least pretext; at the drop of a hat
thankfully; fortunately; luckily; thanks to your (his, their, everyone's, etc.) kindness; thanks to your assistance; thanks to your support
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
day in and day out; all the time
more than most people; more than other people; compared with other people; more than others
leaf mustard (Brassica juncea var. integrifolia); mustard greens
we are of equal status in this regard; we are in the same boat; the same to you; the feeling is mutual
breaking off; snapping off
stylish; smart; chic; (arch.) conceited; (arch.) cheeky
to envision how things will turn out (usu. unfortunate); to have foresight; to be able to see the future
going out (of a nobleman, etc.); visiting
sentence; verdict; pronouncement
separation; partition; detachment; segregation; isolation
memorial service for the dead; holding a service