easy; smooth; without a hitch; quick
surely (not); certainly (not)
thought; imagination; mind; desire; wish; love
ill will; spite; bad meaning; mala fides; bad faith; malice
underhand grip; backhand grip (e.g. in tennis); unexpected twist; turning the tables (on an opponent)
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
without; but if; otherwise; or else
seeming; giving the appearance of; giving one the feeling of
clear; precise; definite; distinct
ghostly air; weird air; unearthly atmosphere
purposely (of something needless, unexpected or seemingly counterproductive, etc.); daringly (doing something); not necessarily; not particularly; (arch.) definitely not
naivete; simplicity; innocence
number one; first; best; most; game; round
after (practically) no time; immediately after; just; having no time to
which (of three or more); well; now; c'mon
limit; limits; degree; extent; the end; the last; as long as ...
show (of power, ability, etc.); exhibition; demonstration; display; manifestation
predicament; one's ground; one's position
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
to float; to set afloat; to show on one's face (smile, sadness, etc.); to recall; to call to mind
frustrated (over a failure, humiliation or injustice); annoyed; chagrined; (bitterly) disappointed; bitter; vexed
confirmation; verification; validation; review; check; affirmation
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
to find a clear solution; to come to a clean decision; to give a clear explanation; to divide exactly (without remainder); to divide evenly
to kill with a sword (knife, dagger, etc.); to slay; to put to the sword
to declare; to assert; to state definitively; to finish saying; to say it all; to finish one's sentence
a short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago
method; manner; appearance; air; tendency; folk song (genre of the Shi Jing)
to be of use as a reference; to be helpful
oh; ho; exclamation of surprise, admiration, etc.; hoo (owl call); toot (sound of a flute)
recollection; retrospection; reflection; reminiscence
to choose one's words (with care); to be careful with one's words
acutely (feel); keenly; severely; tightly; hard
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
way of the sword; swordsmanship
to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to make an effort; to be zealous
for the first time; only after ... is it ...; only when ... do you ...; first time; (one's) first
to feel (as if); to have a feeling (that); to have a hunch (that); to feel like doing; to want to do