veneer; outer layer that conceals something's true nature; (lit.) one layer of skin
to peel off; to come off; to be taken off
personal; individual; private
an instant; a split second; no time at all; (lit.) time of an "ah!"
to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen
(received) favor, kindness or blessing (favour)
any- (e.g. anything, anywhere, anyone); -ever (e.g. whatever, wherever, whenever); even (if it's just ...); at least; either ... or ...
to face (a situation); to encounter; to be confronted with
greenhouse; hothouse; conservatory; glasshouse
at hand; on hand; way of moving one's arms; skill; money at hand; pocket money
intolerant; small-minded; inflexible; unforgiving; unyielding; ungenerous
rock (in rock-paper-scissors); stone; ungh; gulp; rumbling (of an empty stomach); growling
to throw into disorder; to disarrange; to disturb (order, peace, etc.); to corrupt (public morals); to dishevel (hair)
plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
to displease; to offend; to hurt (a person's) feelings
self-awareness; awareness (of one's position, abilities, duty, etc.); perceiving (something); taking in (a sensation); self-consciousness
not to mention ...; needless to say ...; not to speak of ...; (arch.) negligent; (arch.) neglectful; (arch.) careless
with a crack; with a snap; firmly; sharply; precisely; properly
to hit (someone); to strike; to make (a speech); to give (an address); to gamble
to recommend; to endorse (e.g. a candidate); to infer (from); to deduce; to think (something) through; to ponder deeply
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
reconciliation; making up (with); making peace (with); being friends again; patching up a quarrel
to bow; to bow one's head; to apologize; to apologise; to bow to; to yield to
narrow-minded; intolerant; petty
mistress; kept woman; concubine
taking a quantity (of time, people, etc.); similar to ...; dependent on ...; reliant on ...; while ...; when ...
dullard (gen. from not picking up on other people's feelings)
manner; way; appearance; air; custom; convention; folk song (genre of the Shi Jing)
working overtime; detention; being kept in (e.g. after school)
nature (of a person); disposition; temperament; quality; inherent characteristic; property
very interesting; of great interest
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
to make good; to improve; to do often; to be kind to; to treat well
to get to know each other; to make acquaintance
border; boundary; turning point; watershed; area; region
selection (from many people for an important position); exceptional promotion
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
phantom; vision; illusion
that much; as much; to that extent; only that; that alone; no more than that
extremely; in the extreme; knows no bounds (e.g. rudeness); boundless (e.g. universe, ocean); limitless