bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to leak out; to escape; to find expression; to give vent; to leak out; to be divulged
but; however; (and) yet; nevertheless; still; for all that
elder sister; effeminate man
how much; something over; and something; however (much); no matter how
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
protection; safeguard; guardianship; preservation; conservation
to be attached; to be connected with; to remain imprinted; to scar; to bear (fruit, interest, etc.); to be acquired (of a habit, ability, etc.); to increase (of strength, etc.)
unidentifiable; unidentified
suspicious; dubious; doubtful; unsure; untrustworthy; unreliable; strange
blunt; to the point; direct; outspoken; frank
opinion; view; comment; scolding; reprimand; rebuke
reality; actuality; hard fact
to come to know; to perceive; to realize; to realise; to become aware (of)
benefactor; patron; person to whom one owes a great deal; person to whom one is (deeply) indebted
total; complete; all-out; general; extensive; full-scale
to accept; to receive; to agree
because ...; for ...; the reason being ...; as for ...; when it comes to ...; regarding ...
unreasonable; unnatural; impossible; forcible; forced; excessive (work, etc.); immoderate
consideration; guess; conjecture; judgement
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat; home page (of a website)
order; command; decree; (software) instruction; statement
absurd; irrational; unreasonable; absurdity
absolutely; definitely; absolute; unconditional; absoluteness
members; member; constituent
space (between); gap; period of time (during, while); duration; between (two parties or things); among (a group); relations (between)
really; truly; indeed; good grief
camera shake; picture blur; deviation; slight shifting
monolith; large slab of rock; unity (of a group, organization, etc.); unanimity; solidarity
to betray; to turn traitor (to); to double-cross; to disappoint; to let down
thinking; thought; idea; notion; intention; plan
organization; organisation; structure; construction; system (e.g. railroad, transport, party, etc.); tissue; texture (of a rock)
reverse; opposite; converse (of a hypothesis, etc.); inverse (function)
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
to get involved or entangled in; to get mixed up in; to have something to do with; to have dealings with
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
number of persons; personnel
limit; limits; degree; extent; the end; the last; as long as ...
seems; I think; I guess; right?; don't you agree?