failing to properly evaluate the (relative) importance (of); putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the cause for the end; mistaking the insignificant for the essential; getting one's priorities backwards
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
public matter; governmental matter; prince; duke; lord; sir
child (esp. a boy); viscount; founder of a school of thought (esp. Confucius); master; masters and philosophers (categorization of Chinese classical literature); (arch.) you; -er (i.e. man who spends all his time doing...)
to go out of use; to become obsolete; to die out; to go out of fashion
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
law; act; method; mood; dharma; law
applying (e.g. a technology); adoption
strictly; severely; rigidly
treason; treachery; mutiny; rebellion; insurrection
permission; approval; authorization; to permit; to authorize
self-government; autonomy; local (governmental) autonomy
right (to do something); authority; power
use; exercise (of one's right, authority, power, etc.)
judgement; judgment; carrying out a sentence (e.g. execution)
in turns; in series; in number order; by rotation
audience (with a person of high standing)
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to have sex with; to make love to; to sit on (eggs); to brood
form (as opposed to substance); formality; method; system; format; mode
waiting room; anteroom; antechamber; green room
snugly; neatly; compactly; cosily
wall; partition; barrier; obstacle; Chinese "Wall" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to give (time, money, goods); to donate; to do; to perform; to apply (processing, makeup, etc.); to add (e.g. ornamentation, annotation)
Indian sandalwood (Santalum album); white sandalwood
craftsman; artisan; workman; carpenter
to handle; to manage; to deal with; to rear; to look after
to comfort; to console; to amuse