Dictionary

construction cost

loyal and dependable

multifunctional; multifunction

to force a smile; a bitter laugh

it is reasonable to say that...

to be dormant (biology); inactive (volcano); to hibernate (computing)

as a rule; as usual; usually

to have a clear conscience; to have no qualms about sth

weak; feeble

to disappear without trace; to vanish all of a sudden; to spread fast

to relieve sb of his post; to sack; to demote

length (of a piece of writing); space occupied on a printed page

to lead (an animal by the head); to take the lead; to coordinate (a combined operation)

example; model

slowly; gently

(of passing time) in an instant; (of a sight) in a flash

nasty; sordid; filthy

pretty; beautiful

a common occurrence (idiom)

trials and tribulations; ups and downs

last third of the month

reserved (personality); introverted; (economics etc) domestic-oriented

even if; even though

four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 欢喜, anger 愤怒, sorrow 哀 and joy 快乐; lit. happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy (idiom); fig. emotions

to proceed in parallel; side by side (of two processes, developments, thoughts etc)

fine horse; steed

to appreciate (as a connoisseur)

to couple; to link; to hook together; (fig.) (preceded by 与 + {entity}) to establish contact (with {entity}); (Tw) to collude (with {entity}); (fig.) to link (marketing efforts with production etc); to peg (welfare payments to inflation etc); to tie (remuneration to performance etc)

independent and autonomous (idiom); self-determination; to act independently; to maintain control over one's own affairs

burning hot; scorching

to feel very apologetic

cable car

dowry

to lose a family fortune (idiom)

lit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius); fig. (jocular) extremely; awfully

to go from house to house

festive day; holiday

to untie; (fig.) to ease restrictions

monthly ticket

to partition; to divide up

scholar; literati

long and tedious; redundant; superfluous

sweet potato

far from the center; remote; outlying

mistaken ideas; misconceptions; the error of one's ways

base; foundation; bottom

tottering; on the verge of collapse

gorgeous; garish and beautiful

pungent (taste); bitter; fig. sad

shipping by sea