Vocabulary

to control foreigners by foreigners; to play one barbarian state against another

lessons from history are not far to seek

unified effort of government and private sector

cannot avoid (doing); cannot help (doing); have no other choice but to; must (do)

to fail to make timely preparations; to not dig a well until one is thirsty

to fail to make timely preparations; to not dig a well until one is thirsty

to enter government service; to become an official; to don an official uniform; to remove commoners' clothing

to read volume by volume; to go on reading

to say a word; to say something; to speak briefly; to give a quick holler; to let (someone) know

to leave government service; to resign from a public position; to untie the ribbon

to leave one's hometown to study; to carry a case of books

you only live once; you only have one life

simple food and drink; being content with a frugal life; a bamboo dish of rice and a gourd of drink

to offer a toast for longevity

to enter government service; to become an official; to don an official uniform; to tie the ribbon

to make a great effort; to exert oneself

to succeed by following the lead of an expert; to get ahead by following someone's lead

to die; to quit this world; to return to the earth; to go the way of all flesh; to part forever

seventh chord

to interpret (and use) a passage without regard to its context

Disturbance of the Three Ports (riots in Korea in 1510); Sampo Waeran

to jump at the chance; to accept an offer; to show interest in; to accept a proposal

simple is best; less is more

(not) even with; (not) even using

to cause harm (to)

to take to defending oneself above all; to save one's skin

things going contrary to one's wishes

no filter (photo); without processing

many a little makes a mickle; every little helps; the tower of nine storeys (stories) rose from a small heap of earth

to be short (e.g. of clothing); to be shorter than usual

Third Way (in politics)

at most; at best

being unable to laugh (at a funny but serious situation); forced to hold back laughter

a matter for speculation; only conjecture; just guesswork

after all; in the end; in short; given due consideration; when all is said and done

repetitious harping of the elderly; oft-repeated tales by old folks; tedious and repetitive talk of old people; old man's rambling

attentive to detail; meticulous in one's work

to catch one's attention; to catch one's ear; to be annoying to one's ear

to be sitting with amicably; to be close to someone

a straw will show which way the wind blows; a falling leaf shows that autumn has come