millennium; one thousand years; (fig.) long time
prosperity; thriving; flourishing
to carry to extremes; to go to the end of something; to investigate thoroughly; to master
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
whole nation; whole land; whole country
to be open (to traffic); to lead to; to flow (liquid, current); to pass; to be understood; to be comprehended; to be honored
common language; lingua franca; standard language (language variety understood throughout a country)
both in name and reality; both in name and substance
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
mere shadow of one's former self; having no trace left (of former glories, talent, looks, etc.); unrecognizable (as the person one used to be); unrecognisable
to see; to witness; to observe; to catch sight of; to get a glimpse of; to encounter
decrease; reduction; decline
to continue (going along some trend)
equal; identical; the same; no different (to); just like; equivalent
decline; degeneration; decay; waning; ebbing
side street (often parallel to a main street); back street; alley; alleyway
to decline (in prosperity); to become deserted; to become desolate; to taper off (of a sound)
poor; needy; lacking (quantity and quality-wise); poor; scanty
overripeness; full maturity; full development
to stop; to cease; to come to an end; to cut off
to split; to tear; to burst; to be separated; to be divided
suspension bridge; rope bridge
to suspend between two points; to build (a bridge, etc.); to put up on something (e.g. legs up on table)
that way; that direction; that (one); that person; there; over there
to hang; to suspend; to hang oneself; to hoist an opponent off of his feet by his loincloth; to turn upwards (as if being pulled); to be slanted (of eyes)
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
pillar; post; support; prop; counter for buddhas, gods, nobles, etc.
tear; rip; rent; slit; crack; chasm
to jump over; to clear; to walk over (someone)
detour; circumvention; turning movement
August; eighth month of the lunar calendar
sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical
hot; warm; passionate; impassioned; on everybody's mind; on the radar
direct sunlight; direct rays of the sun
slowly (but steadily); gradually; irritatedly; impatiently; scorchingly (of the sun); sizzling (i.e. sound of frying in oil); sound of a warning bell, alarm clock, etc.
to burn; to roast; to broil; to heat; to heat up; to make (charcoal, pottery, bricks, etc.); to bake
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
stout-hearted; firm; courageous; brave; tough
calm; serenity; tranquillity; tranquility
precipitous; rugged; inaccessible; grim; severe; stern
dripping with sweat; bathed in perspiration
look (in someone's eyes); expression (of the eyes); eyes