pressure; stress; pressure (e.g. political); coercion; arm-twisting
February; second month of the lunar calendar
optional; voluntary; arbitrary; arbitrary
wholly; solely; entirely; principally; mostly; chiefly
hard-to-get-into university; elite university; highly-selective university
to engage in; to participate in; to take part in; to be involved in
shackles; fetters; irons; bonds (e.g. family); ties; binding relationship
monotony; monotone; dullness; monotone; monotonic
drainage basin; catchment basin; river basin; watershed; valley
overflowing; flood; inundation; oversupply; plethora
artificial lake; man-made lake; reservoir
sightseeing spot; tourist attraction
arrowhead; target of a flying arrow; brunt (of an attack); the very moment (when); the point (of doing)
exactly!; surely!; that's it!; ding dong (sound of door bell, chime, etc.)
late at night; at a late hour
to visit; to call on; to pay a visit to
thief; burglar; robber; theft; burglary; robbery
study; library; den; home office; reading room
door handle; doorknob; door knob; knob or handle which operates the door catch
serious; earnest; honest; real; legit
fear; dread; dismay; terror; horror; scare
door (Western-style, car, etc.)
bottom of one's heart; depths of one's mind; innermost thoughts; from the bottom of one's heart; wholeheartedly; truly
sopping wet; dripping wet; sodden; drenched; soaked
homecoming; returning home
to blow violently; to sweep over; to devastate
middle of the night; dead of night
to cool (from room temperature); to chill; to calm down; to cool off; to be frightened (at); to be scared (of)
to grumble; to gripe; to complain
cold (e.g. weather); uninteresting (esp. joke); lame; dull
the whole area; all areas
official announcement; proclamation
(temporary) closure of school