soft sound; dampening (of sound)
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
sincere; earnest; serious
to be opposite; to face each other
honest; frank; candid; honestly; frankly
good match; suitable candidate (for marriage); good opportunity to be saved by Buddha
glittering; sparkling; glistening; twinkling
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that
various; all sorts of; variety of; (arch.) various colors (colours)
thin; slender; fine; unlucky
moustache; beard; whiskers (on a cat, etc.); feelers (on an insect, etc.); shadow (on a candlestick chart)
to separate; to part; to divide; to keep apart
to differ; to vary; to disagree
to jump in; to leap in; to plunge into; to burst in; to barge in
courage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
to freeze (from fear); to be unable to (too frightened to) run
distortion; stretch; strained interpretation; technicality; casuistry; sophistry
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
to overlook; to command a view of; to look down on; to despise; to look down on
motherland; fatherland; native country
sister-in-law (spouse's younger sister or younger brother's wife); younger stepsister; younger adopted sister; non-blood-related younger sister
intent to kill; intent to murder; urge to kill; murderous impulse
not funny; not a laughing matter; not a joke
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; (lit.) to be packed to the hilt
pessimism; disappointment
perseverance; determination; tenacity; energy
way; method; means; resource; course
so far; up to now; hitherto; that's enough (for today); it ends here
from now on; in the future; hereafter; ahead of us; down the road
crackling; cracking; clapping; incessantly (blinking)
(period of) a year; during an era
to throw away; to cast away; to abandon; to desert; to give up; to resign
scenery; scene; landscape; scene (e.g. of a crime)
to see; to witness; to observe; to catch sight of; to get a glimpse of; to encounter
one; 1; best; first; foremost; beginning; start
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
obstinate; stubborn; headstrong