to tell X from Y; to distinguish; to know (one thing) from (another)
distinction; differentiation; classification
to be torn off; to come off
commonplace; ordinary; typical; ubiquitous; run-of-the-mill; mundane
wooden figure; wooden doll; puppet; blockhead; good-for-nothing; fool
(having) bad marks or results (e.g. in school); of poor quality or workmanship
and yet; though; when; in spite of
discomfort; inconvenience; poverty; want; inability; disability
another meeting; meeting again; reunion
several years; a few years
before one knows; unnoticed; unawares
to choose (a thing) at one's own discretion; to use one's discretion in choosing
to instruct; to tell to do; to ask to do; to order
block (of wood); chip; splinter
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
to copy; to imitate; to counterfeit; to forge
to be deeply impressed; to take to heart; to engrave on one's heart; to bear in mind; (lit.) to engrave in one's liver
one by one; one each; one at a time
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; circumstances; situation; work
obedient; meek; docile; honest; frank; upfront (about one's feelings)
quick; swift; nimble; quick (understanding, judgement, etc.); alert; prompt
absorption; suction; attraction
scolding; telling-off; rebuke; complaint; grumbling; fault-finding
to descend; to go down; to be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.); to pass (of time); to surrender; to capitulate; to be less than
this for sure; certainly is
branch; bough; limb; twig; sprig; spray
leaf; blade (of grass); (pine) needle
root (of a plant); root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.); root (of all evil, etc.); source; one's true nature
to explain; to advocate; to preach; to persuade
clumsy; awkward; tactless; awkward (e.g. socially); (arch.) mean; (arch.) cowardly
to break; to destroy; to wreck; to ruin; to break (a bill, etc.)
to form; to shape; to make; to mold; to mould; to build up
secret technique; secret art
to teach thoroughly; to instill (into); to instil; to inculcate; to drum (into); to drill (into)
to render futile; to bring to naught; to waste; to not make good use of
nothing but; none other than
this way and that; (by) various means; (by) every means
teacher; master; religious leader; specialist; (arch.) five-battalion brigade comprising 2500 men (Zhou-dynasty Chinese army)
pride; boast; credit (to)
silent; silent movie; silent film; silent letter
sympathy; empathy; response
devoted; self-sacrificing
to lose heart; to lose motivation
nursing; care; caregiving; caring
method of treatment; cure; remedy