wooden doll; wooden figure; puppet; blockhead; good-for-nothing
moderate; reserved; modest; temperate; restrained; low-key
to have a hard time of it
intentionally; deliberately; designedly; especially; particularly
mostly; ordinarily; probably; most; almost all; ordinary
to get late; to advance; to wear on
the Ox (second sign of the Chinese zodiac); hour of the Ox (around 2am, 1-3am, or 2-4am); north-northeast; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
eight; eight years of age; two o'clock (old time system)
to cool down; to get cold; to cool off (excitement, temper, etc.); to subside; to be cold (eyes, expression, etc.); to be composed
residence; living (at, in); abode
to one's heart's content; to one's complete satisfaction; as much as one likes; heartily; thoroughly; without restraint
suddenly; in a flash; rapidly; nimbly; alertly
stone (of a fruit); pit; core (of an organization, team, etc.); nucleus; nuclear weapons; nucleus (of an atom); nucleus (of a cell)
land mine; topic that sets someone off; sensitive topic; something that seems fine at first but turns out to be very bad (e.g. product, business); booby trap
destructive blast; blowing up; explosion
fat; fatty; grand; magnificent; excellent
nth son; lang; official title in ancient China; (arch.) man; (arch.) young man; (arch.) my husband
to cite as an example; to refer to; to quote
to give birth; to bear (child); to lay (eggs); to produce; to yield; to give rise to
growth; breeding; growing up (in, as); upbringing
breaking through; breakthrough; surmounting (a difficulty); overcoming; exceeding; passing
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
unexplored region; secluded region; place off the beaten track
roots of grass; grassroots (e.g. of a political party); rank and file; places hidden from sight
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
tightly; tautly; (springing, straightening) up; suddenly; intuitively; instinctively
city police; municipal police
confrontation; opposition; antagonism
to tie; to restrain; to confine; to bind; to fasten
rather; sooner; preferably
sneakily; secretly; stealthily; on the sly
forced to use; forced into a position
smooth; undisturbed; uninterrupted; harmonious
district; area; zone; quarter; section; region
neighborhood council; neighbourhood council; residents' association; student council
substation; branch office
friendship; (on) familiar terms; intimacy; kindness; goodwill
solitary island; isolated island
desirable; hoped for; preferable; advisable
cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)