shrill voice; piercing cry; shriek; scream
to break (into pieces); to be broken; to collapse; to crumble; to become less formal; to throw off reserve
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
looks (esp. of a woman); features; ability; capability; (public) estimation (esp. of a man); credit
to wear glasses; to put on glasses
grand chancellor (highest-ranking minister in ancient China); chief councillor; minister (Chinese-style title)
higher rank; better position
authority; power; influence; (an) authority (on); expert
quick-witted; bright; rapid thinking
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
insurrection; mutiny; rebellion; revolt; uprising
insolent fellow; rude fellow
snake; serpent; large snake
being very busy; busyness
existence or nonexistence; presence or absence; consent or refusal; yes or no
to get someone to say; to make someone say; to let someone say; to let someone speak out; to make a sound
to feel a chill run down one's spine
to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to cancel; to abandon; to give up
to follow; to pursue; to die right after a loved one; to kill oneself after the death of a loved one; to follow an example set by earlier generations (or one's master, etc.)
... or something (like that); ... or whatever; so-called ...; a certain ...
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
interior; backwoods; hinterland; back regions
other people's affairs; someone else's problem
absolutely essential; indispensable; vital; critical
to be lacking in options; to be too few
at once; immediately; right away; directly (face, lead to, etc.); automatically (mean, result in, etc.)
to obtain; to come into possession of; to get hold of; to get one's hands on
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
payment (to the government, authorities, etc.); land tax (often paid in rice); tribute
our country; our land; one's own country
property; fortune; means; assets
(in the same way) as before; as always
intimacy; friendship; friendly relations
stinking; smelly; suspicious; fishy; hammy (acting); over-the-top; clumsy
end; close; conclusion; termination
vast; huge; immense; malva nut (Scaphium affine)
make; manufacture; -made; made of ...; made in ...
refining; refinement; smelting; training
starting afresh; going back to square one; abandoning (e.g. a plan); clearing an abacus
No Entry; No Trespassing; No Admittance; off-limits; restricted; forbidden
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
to live (of animals); to inhabit; to nest
basis; grounds; base (of operations); base (of a group of stones)