at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
the ostentation (bad taste) of the nouveau riche; air of vulgar prosperity
genuineness or spuriousness; authenticity; the genuine and the spurious
insight; power of observation
glass sphere; glass bead; glass marble
seat; bench; temporary job while looking for a better job or until one marries
even more; still more; one step; one rung; one paragraph; one passage
being able to hear something (clearly); clearness of a sound; reputation; renown; impression (that something gives off); respectability
flowery words; rhetorical flourishes
to place in a row; to line up; to range in order; to list one after another (e.g. excuses, reasons, complaints); to rattle off (e.g. lies, compliments); to reel off
to go through; to pierce; to penetrate; to stick to (opinion, principles, etc.); to carry out; to persist with
exposed; scanty; bare; public; open
what's what; heads or tails
pout; displeasure; ill humor; ill humour; sullenness
solitude; loneliness; isolation
so what?; what of it?; and?; why do you ask?
to punish; to penalize; to penalise
just because; even if; even though
article specially made to order; made-to-measure (custom-made) article
fashion sense; sense of fashion
to take good care of; to treasure; to value; to hold dear; to prize; to cherish
camel; camel (cloth); cloth made from camel hair; camel (color); light yellowish brown
common carp (Cyprinus carpio); koi carp
Gamblea innovans (species of deciduous tree); extremely spicy form of chili pepper; variety of high-quality green tea
(on the) sea; surface of the sea
old tale; folk tale; legend; reminiscence
the Dragon (fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Dragon (around 8am, 7-9am, or 8-10am); east-southeast; third month of the lunar calendar
fat; fatty; grand; magnificent; excellent
nth son; lang; official title in ancient China; (arch.) man; (arch.) young man; (arch.) my husband
opening; start; opening credits; title sequence; theme song (played during the opening credits of a TV show, etc.)
prickling; stinging; tingling
to mount (a horse, bicycle, etc.); to straddle; to sit astride; to span (an area, time, etc.); to extend over; to spread over
one's social standing; one's position; one's place; one's station in life
excessive; too much; unreasonable
diversion (from one's worries, troubles, etc.); distraction; amusement
malicious; ill-tempered; unkind; mean; nasty
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
bearing; heading; point of the compass
area; zone; district; quarter; section; limits