above the clouds; heaven; the Imperial Court; something unreachable; place of out of reach
to prostrate oneself (before)
to outwit; to outsmart; to counterplot; to pierce something all the way through
misleading (someone); manipulation (e.g. of public opinion)
device; contrivance; trick; trap; (small) scale; half finished; commencement
unhurt; uninjured; flawless (e.g. gem); unblemished; spotless (e.g. reputation); faultless (e.g. performance)
preemptive strike; preemptive attack; first strike
necessary expenses; due charges; tax deductible expenses
to be stingy (with); to skimp (on)
(unrefined) brown sugar; muscovado
exquisite; superb; perfect; miraculous
ancient times; prehistoric times; the distant past; a very long time ago
to pay attention; to be watchful
to wear away; to rub down; to abrade
(powers of) concentration; ability to concentrate
trouble; troubles; worry; distress; sorrows; anguish
saint; wise and virtuous person (esp. in Confucianism); great religious teacher; refined sake
neighbour; neighbor; (people in the) neighbourhood; neighborhood
unripe; green; immature; immature; inexperienced; unskilled
departure; setting off; being used up; being consumed; passage of time; lapse; rehearsal
to get stuck with (some job); to end up with (something unpleasant)
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
one's own strength or effort; (by) oneself
what kind of; what sort of; what; no matter what (kind of); whatever; any
formidable enemy; strong enemy; tough enemy
to bear up in tragedy; to stand pain well; to hold one's temper; to put up (with something); (lit.) to clench one's teeth
stray sheep; lost lamb; (fig.) person at a loss for what to do
Bible; the Scriptures; Holy Writ
quotation; citation; reference
vein (visible under the skin); bulging veins (esp. in the head)
distinction; discrimination
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
muahaha (laughter); mwahahaha; bahaha; bwahaha
leaving out; omitting; skipping; (beating) in succession; in a row
heartbroken; crestfallen; dejected; feeling exhausted; feeling drained
to doubt; to think (something is) doubtful; to wonder; to be suspicious
mechanism; machinery; trick; dodge; mechanical doll; string puppet
it is certain true that ... (but); you can't argue that it's not ... (but)
territory; domain; dominion; possession
tall building; high-rise building
the whole town; all over the town; throughout the town
royal castle; imperial castle