to take a step backward; to step back (i.e. to re-think something); to distance oneself (from); to behave humbly; to budge (a little); to make one concession
anticlimax; let-down; disappointment; loss of interest
ironclad rule; inviolable rule; invariable principle; iron law
to let (someone) take hold of your hand
to disturb; to upset; to ruffle; to stir up; to mess up
to insert; to put in (such that there is a snug fit); to have sex; to fuck; to pigeonhole (into a particular category); to place a ring-shaped object around something (esp. one that restricts freedom, such as handcuffs)
in the meanwhile; during the time
sleek; smooth; thin (of a liquid); without hesitation or delay
being lost for words; becoming speechless; jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
difficulty; trouble; accident; disaster; fault; defect
having to be; must be; should be; ought to be
method; process; manner; way; means; technique
to respond; to satisfy; to accept; to comply with; to apply for
pessimism; disappointment
to get dark; to grow dark; to end (of a day, year, season, etc.); to come to an end; to be sunk in (e.g. despair); to be lost in (e.g. thought)
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
readiness; preparedness; resolution; resignation
to be packed (with); to be full (space, schedule, etc.); to be blocked (road, pipe, nose, etc.); to be clogged; to shorten (width, interval, etc.); to shrink (shirt, word form, etc.); to be at a loss
to raise; to bring to (someone's attention); to appeal to (reason, emotions, etc.); to work on (one's emotions); to complain; to sue (a person)
self-deprecation; self-derision; self-mockery; laughing at oneself
part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role; duties
one-by-one; separately; in detail
to grow wild; to run to waste; to become rough (of art, craft, etc.); to lose refinement; to intensify (of wind, rain, etc.); to become more severe
to dedicate; to make an offering; to supply; to store; to finish; to bring to a close; to restore (something to its place)
loser; failure; underdog; unmarried and childless older woman
to be wet; to be moist; to get dim; to become blurred; to become tear-choked
slowly; quietly; steadily; soon; momentarily; before long
kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
to mow; to reap; to harvest
not knowing one's social position; overweening; overreaching; forgetting who one is
only natural; no wonder; as expected; of course; as it should be
still; even now; to this day
unbearable; intolerable; unendurable