to be hard pressed; to be at a loss; to become poor; to be reduced to poverty
worldly wisdom; secret of success in life
serious look (on one's face); straight face
(verbal) abuse; denunciation; disparagement; vilification; scathing criticism
to reconsider; to rethink; to reassess
to do someone in; to bump someone off
to see through; to see the true nature of something
world; society; life; lifetime; age; era; reign
good-for-nothing; spineless; gutless; spiritless; feckless; pluckless
manner of speaking; verbal argument; objection; protesting a decision (esp. that of a sumo referee); rumor; rumour
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
to laugh at; to ridicule; to mock; to make fun of; to sneer at
as one expects; as one wants; to one's satisfaction; as one sees fit
real experience; actual observations
based on; on the basis of
opposite; reverse; contrary
to try and do something; to attempt to do something
infant; baby; little child
to hit the nail on the head; to guess exactly right
being lost for words; becoming speechless; jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
to grow angry; to display one's anger
account of a dream; fantastic story; wild tale; empty dream
wording (esp. of written text); classical Chinese literary style; traditional written Chinese
the present; present time; as of; present tense; this world; this life
I; me; oneself; (arch.) you; (arch.) prefix indicating familiarity or contempt
intimidation; threat; bluster
to comb upwards; to brush up (a loose strand of hair); to turn up a lamp wick
a short while ago; already
to be at a loss for words
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
arrogance; insolence; disrespect
index finger; forefinger; second toe
to thrust before; to thrust at
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
unsightly; ugly; unseemly; indecent; deplorable; disgraceful
the more ... the more ...; as; (arch.) while; (arch.) during; (arch.) because; (arch.) since
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
to triumph; to be elated with success
sweat; perspiration; moisture; condensation; gulp; oops