story; tale; legend; plot; storyline
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
anti-; antithesis; fanqie; traditional Chinese spelling system in which two characters are used: the first one for the onset, the second one for rhyme and tone
to offer; to propose; to suggest; to put forward; to request; to ask (for)
friction; rubbing; chafing; discord; friction; strife
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
few decades; many decades; several decades
treasure; picture of a treasure ship; money; cash
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while travelling; present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
to take an aggressive position; to stir up trouble
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
flight from one's country; seeking asylum; defection; emigration (for political reasons); (going into) exile; becoming a (political) refugee
don't worry; no worries; never mind
trouble; bother; annoyance
how; in what way; by what means
self-; from ...; this ... (in contrast to some other ...); aforementioned
to run about; to rush about
ruin; fall; collapse; downfall; bankruptcy
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
adopted child (usu. male); son-in-law
side; edge; beside; while (doing); in addition to; at the same time
merchant; store; shop; merchant house; merchant family
new; neo-; newness; novelty; Gregorian calendar; Xin dynasty (China, 9-23 CE)
appointment; nomination; ordination; commission; designation
house where one was born; one's parents' house
force; strength; capability; ability; efficacy; effect; effort
disturbance; trouble; ups and downs
guidance; leadership; instruction; shido (disciplinary action for a minor infringement of the rules of judo)
weak point; weakness; shortcoming; defect; flaw; sore spot
to give one's name; to introduce oneself; to announce one's candidacy
as soon as...; just after...; immediately after...; hurriedly; in haste; quickly
to dedicate; to make an offering; to supply; to store; to finish; to bring to a close; to restore (something to its place)
at the height of one's power or influence; at the peak of one's popularity
to screw in; to thrust into; to push into; to protest (and seek rectification); to complain
prefix for forming ordinal numbers
permanent; everlasting; lasting; very long; many years of
prosperity; thriving; flourishing
conviction; belief; confidence