distortion; stretch; strained interpretation; technicality; casuistry; sophistry
dispute; strife; quarrel; dissension; conflict; rivalry
to push on; to plunge forward; to push one's way to
to hold one's breath (in fear, anxiety, etc.)
hereditary; patrimonial; handed down from generation to generation
to be hard pressed; to be at a loss; to become poor; to be reduced to poverty
now that; since; so long as; because
being empty-handed; bare hands (in a fight); being penniless
looking on; remaining a spectator
certainly; surely; definitely
to be contented; to be at ease
to work hard at; to devote oneself to; to be diligent in
one's old bones; aged body
to be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose
to be overcome with emotion
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
tea; tea plant (Camellia sinensis); tea preparation; making tea; brown; (arch.) mockery
to crouch; to squat; to cower
one copy (of a document); one letter; one-way traffic; pure straight; winning hand containing nine consecutive tiles of the same suit (i.e. 1-9)
casual; unconcerned; nonchalant
last night; the previous night; night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)
improvisation (of a poem); improvization
orpiment; gamboge; falsification; alteration
to end; to be finished; to die; to perish; to do utterly; to do completely
simplicity; brevity; letter; note; bamboo writing strip (in ancient China); simplified Chinese character
mess; sorry state; -ways; -wards; in the act of ...; just as one is ...
dark and desolate; forlorn
to assemble (in a hall); to meet together (in a room)
warm welcome; friendly reception; hospitality; entertainment
attendance; those present
feudal era; feudal times; feudal period; feudal age; age of feudalism
conduct; behavior; behaviour
imperfect; incomplete; faulty; defective
some; any; in any way; of some kind; of some sort