painful; difficult; distressing; (psychologically) difficult; straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation)
to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control; to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb
armpit; under one's arm; beside; close to; aside; to the side; off-track
to eat; to live on (e.g. a salary); to live off; to subsist on
after all; in the end; conclusion; end; end of a game of go, shogi, etc.
yum cha; eating snacks (esp. dim sum) with tea
should (be); bound (to be); nock (of a bow); nock (of an arrow); nock-shaped grip (between thumb and forefinger); wooden frame on the tip of the mast of a Japanese ship that prevents the hawser from falling out
although; despite; whereas; while; if only; I wish
Manchu-Han Imperial Feast; three-day feast of Chinese delicacies held during the Qing dynasty
to attach; to join; to furnish (a house with); to wear; to put on; to keep a diary; to make an entry
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
to enter; to go into; to break into; to join; to enroll; to contain; to hold
splendid; nice; sufficient; fine (in the sense of "I'm fine"); well enough; OK
direction; way; side (of an argument, etc.); one's part; type; category; field (of study, etc.)
delicious; tasty; sweet; attractive; appealing; convenient
together; at the same time; same; identical
extraordinarily; astonishingly; extremely; terribly; unreasonably; absurdly
cooking; cookery; cuisine; dealing with something; handling; administration
seasoning; flavoring; flavouring; condiment
important; serious; valuable; precious; serious matter; major incident
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question
certainly; without fail; right and wrong; pros and cons
to help; to assist; to aid; to contribute to; to be a factor in
wanted; wished for; in need of; I want (you) to
(please) try to; (please) look; seeing; looking
to be confused; to be bewildered; to be taken aback
earnest; sincere; pressing; urgent; pertinent; appropriate
indication; sign; hint; tone (of the market)
to read and understand; to take in; to sense from external cues; to read (someone's) mind; to read (calibration, tape, etc.); to scan (bar code)
mystery novel; detective novel; whodunit
detective; investigator; sleuth; detective work; secret investigation
close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
assistant; helper; assistant (to a professor)
to endeavor (endeavour); to try; to strive; to make an effort; to exert oneself; to be diligent
uh-huh; mm-hmm; with a moan; with a groan