gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
bonds (between people); (emotional) ties; relationship; tether; fetters
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
to all appearances; no matter how you look at it
reason; cause; circumstances
January; first month of the lunar calendar
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that; to be the result (of); to be the outcome; to be the reason (for)
honest; frank; candid; honestly; frankly
envious; jealous; enviable (position, etc.)
(not even) an inch; (not even) a little bit; (lit.) one millimeter
although; despite; whereas; while; if only; I wish
to grumble; to gripe; to complain
fresh; refreshing; invigorating; clear (e.g. voice); fluent; eloquent
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
announcement; presentation; demonstration; displaying; showing; introducing
good; advantage; sake; purpose; consequence; result
to dress oneself up; to deck oneself out
endorsing and questioning the preceding statement; lamenting reflections on the preceding statement
in that way; thus; so; so?
important; significant; precious; valuable; careful
ceremony; rite; ritual; service
always; all the time; never; usual; regular
to joke around; to do and say ridiculous things
sublime; noble; high-minded
to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for
honesty; integrity; purity and unselfishness
-ness; indicates assertion; come; come now
to create (an atmosphere, feeling, etc.); to produce; to engender
clothing; costume; outfit; garment; dress
to wear; to be dressed in; to be adorned in; to clad oneself with
to wear one's hair up; to arrange one's hair
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
neat and clean; tidy; trim
perfectly; right on the mark; spot on; enough; sufficiently; thoroughly
to decide; to choose; to clinch (a victory); to decide (the outcome of a match); to persist in doing; to go through with; to always do
to keep; to preserve; to hold; to last; to endure; to keep well (food)