top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
the reverse; other side; lining
to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees
unshapely; unsightly; clumsy; unpresentable; uncouth; awkward
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
spare energy, time or money; remaining strength; reserve power; money to spare
miserable; wretched; unhappy; sad; pitiable
permission; allowance; acceptance; tolerance; pardon
to order; to command; to appoint
determination; resolution
to disappear; to vanish into thin air
spirit; drive; vigour; ambition; aspiration
rain water; "rain water" solar term (approx. February 19)
order; command; life; destiny; fate
to sacrifice oneself; to die a martyr
coagulation; freezing; solidification; curdling; setting; congealing
to pinch; to hold (between one's fingers); to pick up and eat; to snack on; to pick out (the main point); to summarize
to force; to compel; to coerce; to press; to impose
servant; manservant; menial
to serve; to work for; to attend
to blame; to reproach; to question (a suspect); to challenge; to aggravate (an injury); to be aggravated
something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
novel; original; new; innovative
to finish; to get it over with; to settle; to pay back; to get along (without something); to make do with (without)
clear; clear-cut; lucid; unequivocal; explicit
to trouble; to bother; to annoy
everyday life; daily life
offence; offense; hindrance
to deprecate oneself and praise the listener; to abase oneself
lesson; discipline; example (e.g. set a bad example); revelation
haughty; arrogant; pompous; self-important