talkative; loose-lipped; persiflage; frivolous talk
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
guest of honour; guest of honor; privileged guest; visitor
courteous reception; honorable treatment; honourable treatment
age difference; disparity in age; age gap
to give one's first cry (of a newborn baby); to be born; to come into being; to be formed
coming and going; traffic; road; street; association; socializing
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question
for the first time; only after ... is it ...; only when ... do you ...; first time; (one's) first
to take command; to give direction
military campaign; battle; war
nominal; in name only; only by terminology
unit; denomination; credit (in school); in units of (e.g. "in thousands"); in amounts of
two-digit number; "tens" column; two digits; double figures
few; a little; scarce; insufficient; seldom
decline; fall; decay; withering
to mind; to care; to worry
method; manner; appearance; air; tendency; folk song (genre of the Shi Jing)
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
sailing; marching; going out; dispatch
to remain; to abide; to stay (in the one place); to be limited to; to be confined to; to only account for
fragile; brittle; delicate; sensitive
sprout; shoot; bud; germinal disk (in an egg)
February; second month of the lunar calendar
seventh day of the month; seven days
faster-than-light speed; super luminal speed
now (when it is already much too late); at this stage; afresh; anew; again
astonishing; amazing; surprising; wonderful
maintenance; preservation; improvement
unpredictability; element of surprise
exit; gateway; way out; outlet; vent; leak
reaching; attaining; arrival
presumption; assumption; estimation
direction; district; area; field (e.g. of study); sphere; quarter
absurd; ridiculous; silly; ludicrous; nonsensical; asinine
to memorize; to memorise; to learn; to pick up; to feel; to think