long (time); longstanding; for a long time
to get close; to cuddle close together; to nestle close to; to snuggle up to
still (continuing); as ever; further
dear me!; good gracious!; well; let me see; now
originally; essentially; naturally; in the first place; to begin with
opportunity; chance; trigger; cause
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
helpless; forlorn; hopeless; unpromising; lonely; discouraging
(place) near by; (place) close by; (place) right next to; as soon as; right after
phantom; vision; something fleeting; short-lived dream; fabled item; mythical thing
on the contrary; rather; instead; all the more
dogs and cats; pets; something trivial; worthless thing
interest; entertainment; pleasure; implicit comparison (style of the Shi Jing)
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
diminutive; dwarfish; pygmy; narrow (e.g. thinking); small
standard of conduct; code of behavior; moral code; culture (of an organization)
(oral) message; declaration; hearsay; rumour; rumor
consent; assent; understanding; agreement; comprehension; grasp
to rub out; to clean off; to clear away; to efface; to erase
infuriating; extremely irritating; galling; vexing
questions and answers; dialogue
(academic) excellence; superiority; honors (e.g. graduating with); cum laude
handling things without making waves; taking in one's stride
place; spot; address; district; area; one's house; point
to embrace; to hug; to have; to possess; to command; to lead
synopsis; plot; outline; plan; scheme; program
firm; unshakeable; resolute
grave; solemn; stern; authoritative; hard (e.g. fact)
probably; (most) likely; in all likelihood; I suspect; I dare say; I'm afraid
beyond; across; the other side; the distance
recognizing anew; seeing something in a new light
giving and taking; exchange (of letters); arguing back and forth; (conversational) exchange
close adhesion; sticking firmly (to); relating closely (to); having relevance (to); contact printing
briskly; smartly; promptly; clearly; lucidly
walls have ears; (lit.) sliding doors have eyes
dirty mind; conniving mind; self-interested thinking
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
to receive favor; to receive assistance; to receive help; to be looked after; to be taken care of; to become dependent (on)
(not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough; (not) sufficiently; (not) satisfactorily
that day; the very same day
the other day; lately; recently; meanwhile; in the meantime