to ask; to enquire; to query
ominous; sinister; unlucky; inauspicious
to rule; to govern; to administer
to spin; to make yarn; to spin (a tale); to assemble (e.g. words); to put together
to intertwine; to twist together
to be decided; to be settled; to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.)
to cut apart (cloth, paper, etc.); to sever (ties); to break off (relationship); to cut off (enemy's retreat); to block (road, etc.)
one's property; personal effects; one's belongings
inevitable; inescapable; unavoidable
domination; rule; direction; management; control (e.g. over one's emotions); determining (e.g. one's fate)
with ... as a start; taking advantage of; inspired by
mistake; error; accident; mishap; improper conduct (e.g. between man and woman); indiscretion
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
interesting; fascinating; amusing; funny; enjoyable; fun
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
association (of ideas); being reminded (of something); suggestion
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
to tighten; to stiffen; to brace; to strain
to stop; to turn off; to park; to prevent; to suppress (a cough); to stop (someone from doing something); to dissuade
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
theory; doctrine; opinion; view; rumour; rumor
erratic; offbeat; wild; extraordinary
agreement; coincidence; correspondence; conformity
all; entire; whole; altogether
unreasonable; unnatural; impossible; forcible; forced; excessive (work, etc.); immoderate
children's story; fairy tale
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
memories; recollections; reminiscence
wrong impression; subjective impression; assumption; prejudice
left and right; right and left; (asserting) control; influence; one's attendants; people accompanying one
weak point; vulnerable point; Achilles' heel
so to speak; so to call it; as it were
cloth; bujian (spade-shaped bronze coin of ancient China)
pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
weft; woof (crosswise threads on a loom)