hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds
on board a ship; aboard a ship
to gasp for air; to pant; to be out of breath
stepwise; one step at a time
detestable; despicable; abhorrent
blue; azure; green; pale (facial color); gray; unripe
to think about; to send one's heart out to; to give more than a passing thought to; to think of something far away; to think nostalgically upon (esp. one's hometown)
to take home; to carry home; to bring back home; to take out (e.g. food)
academic book; scholarly book; learned book; tome
(not) even once; (not) ever
careful reading; reading thoroughly; perusal
to scribble (down); to write quickly; to dash off
to spend time (on doing something)
insufficient; inadequate; imperfect
to strike (gold, oil, etc.); to find (e.g. buried treasure); to dig up
to have the end in sight; (lit.) to see the mountains
repeatedly; over and over again; several layers deep; layer upon layer; row upon row
stagnation; deposit; sediment; faltering; hesitation; pause
one's dearest wish; Buddha's vow to save humanity