riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
skill; proficiency; dexterity; flattery
completely; entirely; nonchalantly; as if nothing happened
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
time (three times, each time, etc.); times
connection (to a person, place, etc.); relation; affinity
sure; certain; reliable; trustworthy; If I'm not mistaken; If I remember correctly
to be sufficient; to be enough; to be worth doing; to be worthy of; to do (the job); to serve
to turn completely into; to become completely
antecedents; ancestor; previous position; previous existence; predecessor organization; predecessor organisation
worldly wise; sophisticated; street smart; knowledge of the world (acquired in the school of hard knocks); toughness
to have medicine be effective
I'm sorry; my apologies; may I come in?; permission; leave; dismissal
sour (expression); (lit.) as if having chewed on a bitter bug
dazzling; glaring; dazzlingly beautiful
unpreparedness; falsehood; Chinese "Emptiness" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to marry (a woman); to take to wife; to take in marriage
recommendation of an influential person
misfortune; ill fate; bad luck; obscurity
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
to put in; to let in; to admit; to accept; to accept; to comply; to include
legal wife (of a noble) (as opposed to a concubine); room for receiving guests; heir; successor
intention; personal opinion
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; eccentricity; person with unusual tastes; eccentric; oddball
self-interest; selfish desire
common idea; common wisdom; generally accepted idea
judging from; on the basis of; from the point of view of
to the utmost; to the best of one's ability
ingratiation; pandering; catering (to); going along with (someone or something); accommodating oneself (e.g. to public opinion)
to run along; to run beside; to follow (a policy, plan, etc.); to act in accordance with; to meet (wishes, expectations, etc.); to satisfy
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically
to succeed; to relieve; to take the place of; to substitute for; to be exchanged; to change (places with)
gain; profit; benefit; amplification
often; again and again; over and over again; repeatedly; frequently
good feeling; good will; favourable impression; favorable impression
of course; certainly; naturally
estrangement; alienation; neglecting to stay in contact