naturally growing tree; tree that does not grow in a tree plantation; natural wood
to evaluate; to appraise; to comment on
to charm; to attract; to fascinate; to entice
successive generations; successive emperors
neighboring countries; neighbouring countries; surrounding countries
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
as before; as ever; as it was originally
grey moustache; white beard
comfortable; easy; calm; loose; spacious
at the very beginning of one's speech; the first thing (one) says after opening the mouth
fluttering; flapping; (arch.) flickering (light, flame, etc.); frill; piece of thin material
(relative) merits; superiority or inferiority; quality
to draw through one's hand; to stroke (e.g. a beard); to work someone hard; to masturbate
to be suspicious of; to be doubtful of; to be dubious of
letter; note; epistle; correspondence
sage; wise man; wise person; buddha; bodhisattva; enlightened priest
going alone; self-reliance
groping in the dark; exploring new avenues without having any clues
to guide; to lead; to show the way; to derive; to deduce
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
to hesitate; to hold back; to be reluctant; to be unwilling; to have loose painful bowel movement; to suffer from tenesmus
counting one's chickens before they've hatched; (lit.) counting raccoon dog skins before they have been caught
achievement; performance; results; work; contribution
(suffer) deterioration; growing worse; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
purpose; utility; objective; way to use something
to be pleasure to the eye; to delight the eye; to please the eye; to feast one's eyes on
night view; night skyline; nightscape
to change; to alter; to reform; to correct; to examine; to check
the most; the best; peerless; the greatest; first-rate
split among friends; falling out; internal discord
superficially polite but actually rude; rude under a veneer of politeness; courteous on the surface but insolent at heart
to choke; to have trouble breathing
that being the case; in that case; if that's how it's going to go
staring (e.g. eyes); goggling; glaring