Dictionary

joys and sorrows; partings and reunions; the vicissitudes of life

reed catkin; reed flower

solar term

rolling and crawling; trying frantically to escape (idiom)

lit. say three in the morning but four in the evening (idiom); to change sth that is already settled upon; indecisive; to blow hot and cold

domestic demand

genuine; honest and sincere

the staff of a Buddhist monk

erhua variant of 老伴; (coll.) (of an old couple) husband or wife

to sway to and fro; to rock back and forth

bookcase

red; rosy; flushed

continuously arising; to arise repeatedly

oar

locust tree (Sophora japonica)

boldly; ostentatiously; poised; self-assured; Taiwan pr. [dà mó dà yàng]

congratulatory letter or message

mutiny; rebellion

ice lolly; popsicle

to save on food and clothing (idiom); to live frugally

to be decorated with lanterns and colored banners (idiom)

electric bell

official letter

lit. to fire pots and smelt metal; fig. to educate

to meet with a rebuff

each goes his own way (idiom); each person has his own life to lead

to show ingenuity; (of a design) clever; brilliantly conceived

nice and warm; cozy; heartwarming

to open one's eyes wide at the sight of profit (idiom); thinking of nothing but personal gain; money-grubbing

(idiom) standoffish; indifferent

very rarely seen, unusual (idiom); (idiom) rare or exotic flowers and plants

to speak harshly but without any bad intent (idiom)

mosquito net; CL:頂|顶[ding3]

(idiom) half true and half false

to have real skill; to know one's stuff

to take advantage of sb's precarious position

lit. to make sb wear tight shoes (idiom); to make life difficult for sb

unrestrained; cheerful lack of inhibition, esp. for drinking or sleeping; to drink with abandon

lit. as if drunk and stupefied (idiom); intoxicated by sth; obsessed with

to witness personally

remain fresh; last forever; eternal

stingy (idiom); lit. unwilling to spare a single hair (idiom); fig. extremely stingy

to be strongly determined to succeed (idiom)

to read in silence

starving; famished

mound; small hill

impossible to resist (idiom); an irresistible force

to chatter idly; to gossip; to boast or brag

not feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates

an upset (esp. in sports); unexpected turn of events; to pull off a coup