Vocabulary

burning books on the Chinese classics and burying Confucian scholars alive (Qin dynasty thought suppression campaign)

making strenuous efforts; exerting oneself

Dutch treat; going Dutch

being at a complete loss as to what to do; being at one's wit's end; being at a loss for an answer

few words; single phrase

conservatives and reformists being neck and neck; balanced conservative and progressive strengths

dusky; somber light of a gathering dusk

being absorbed in self-indulgent pleasures; giving oneself up to debauchery and dissipation

being dissolute and unruly; ruining oneself by leading a fast life

bumper crops; year of a full rice harvest

having free time to spare in the midst of busyness; leisure in the intervals of one's work

violent and cruel; tyrannical and atrocious

in bold, vivid brush strokes

sore loser who stubbornly refuses to admit being wrong

eternally unchanging

advancing in the face of death; having a narrow escape from the jaw of death

everything; all things; all affairs; all matters

all things are in a state of flux; everything is constantly changing

one red flower standing out in a sea of green vegetation; one item of quality standing out among many; one woman among many men

fulfilment of a vow; one's earnest prayer being answered

saying whatever one feels; speaking at random; making careless remarks; rambling talk

having no special rank or title

abandoning artifice and just being oneself; doing nothing and taking things as they come

idle and incompetent; accomplishing nothing significant nor being capable of doing so; lacking the talent to do anything but idle away one's time

ignorant and illiterate; uneducated and illiterate; uneducated and illiterate person

sound health

self-contradiction

restoring one's impaired reputation; regaining one's honor; redeeming oneself

restoring one's impaired reputation; regaining one's honor; redeeming oneself

dustless desk by a well-lit window; well-lit and clean study conducive to learning

upbeat and freehearted; cheerful and magnanimous

great nuisance; extremely annoying; quite embarrassing

pretending to obey someone to his face but badmouthing him behind his back

undergoing a complete change in appearance; changing something out of all recognition; a rise in one's reputation

face; honour; honor; reputation; prestige; dignity

demonstrative of one's worth; worthy of one's reputation; living up to one's name; characteristically masterful

the importance of creating an environment conducive to a child's learning; Mencius' mother, three moves

there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion

open door policy

(a house) looking deserted with few visitors; sparrow net in front of the gate