to struggle; to writhe; to wriggle; to act frantically; to make desperate efforts
thin rice porridge; watery cooked rice; rice gruel; congee
triumphant; exultant; in high and proud spirits
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
eagerly; earnestly; ardently
cutting a fingernail (or toenail) to the quick; cutting a nail too close; deep-set nail; deep-set part of nail
outrageous; monstrous; appalling; inordinate; overambitious
to be interested in; to take an interest in; to care about
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
to spell; to write; to compose; to bind (e.g. documents); to patch
confession; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
if you think about it; come to think of it
first meeting; first interview with
leading; prominent; eminent; counting on one's fingers
handwriting; calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
sleek; smooth; thin (of a liquid); without hesitation or delay
to bend; to warp; to curve
difficult to be (in a place); not feeling like staying
to perceive; to grasp (the situation)
bonds (between people); (emotional) ties; relationship; tether; fetters
to have a go; to try and do (something); to take a chance with something
ups and downs; bobbing up and down; rising and falling; ebbing and flowing
cheerful; jovial; weather; season; spirit of yang
length and width; length and breadth; four cardinal points; every direction; as one wishes; as one pleases
delineation; demarcation; drawing a line (e.g. between what's acceptable and unacceptable); (measuring) ruler
elegance; taste; refinement
way to die; means of dying; quality of one's death
to bring; to take (something) along; to fetch; to get
either way; in any case; one way or another
full up; to have had enough of something (both good and bad nuance)
large tree; big tree; huge tree
water; (drinking) water; night entertainment business; nightlife worker; racy; titillating
cackling (sound of shrill laughter)
to turn round; to face about; to turn about
to lay aside; to set aside