to give birth; to bear (child); to lay (eggs); to produce; to yield; to give rise to
by (means of); by doing; due to; via; through
beloved concubine; favourite concubine (e.g. of the shogun)
first; foremost; most important; best; greatest; above all
guardianship; guardian; (theatrical) assistant; prompter
underwater; behind closed doors; behind the scenes; below the surface
factional dispute; factional strife; rivalry between factions
of little importance; trivial; worthless; valueless
current; hip; trendy; fashionable; stylish
itself; one's own body; oneself; originally; naturally
anti-; antithesis; fanqie; traditional Chinese spelling system in which two characters are used: the first one for the onset, the second one for rhyme and tone
to smoke; to smoulder; to be sooty; to be smoke-stained; to smoulder (e.g. a dispute); to smolder
to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to relate to (a matter); to pertain to; to (seriously) affect; to concern
what kind of thing; anything (else); nothing (but)
in good condition; in fine shape; glib; slick; harmonious; melodious
place; spot; address; district; area; one's house; point
to sit down; to take a seat
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to make come true (e.g. a dream); to realize; to fulfill
to question again; to repeat a question (esp. a problematic point, or to verify understanding); to repeat a query
to stroke; to caress; to brush gently; to comb (hair); to smooth down
to be temperate in; to refrain; to make notes; to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for; to be in waiting for
to re-think; to think back upon; to change one's mind
sweetly (smiling); broadly (grinning)
call; visit; inquiry; enquiry; question
guilty (feeling, conscience, look, etc.); (feeling) uneasy
choice; selection; option
to drink; to swallow; to smoke (tobacco); to swallow up; to engulf; to suppress (one's anger, bitter feelings, etc.); to keep down
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter; nothing to worry about
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
without; but if; otherwise; or else
the other day; lately; recently; meanwhile; in the meantime
shape; form; appearance; style; state; situation
to glare at; to scowl at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully; to estimate; to guess
leader; authority; mainstay
to press a question; to cross-examine
back; reverse; rear side; height; stature; ridge (of a mountain)
to pass (e.g. car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to get ahead of
unpleasant; revolting; feeling sick; feeling unwell; uncomfortable; annoying
principle; aim; purport; gist; instructions; orders
false accusations; unfounded suspicion; groundless charge; wet clothes