Vocabulary

rivalry in love; rivalry for the heart of a woman

wooing technique; the way to a man's (woman's) heart

difficult to say which of the two is better; hard to tell which is better; (there is) little to choose between them

to engage in a heated discussion

to look slightly doubtful; to look puzzled; to bend one's head slightly to one side

to make a fool of (someone)

to remain faithful to the memory of one's husband and never remarry

to be a point of honor; to affect someone's good name

(something) one does not really mean; insincere

to harden one's heart; to steel oneself

the past; bygone days (years, age, etc.)

no trouble; easy; simple

things don't work that well in the real world; things seldom go as one wishes; that is expecting too much; it won't be that easy; the wholesaler won't sell it like that

without any difficulty; with ease; easily

like many others; being no exception; just like everyone else; as is usual with; in common with

to end without incident; to not turn into something serious

to take an aggressive position; to stir up trouble

you learn, without realising it, from what is around you; a shop-boy near the temple gate will recite sutras untaught

weird; disgusting

weird; disgusting; sickening

too-good-to-be-true offers (e.g. scams and frauds); too-good-to-be-true stories

New Year's resolution

to come to one's senses

nothing but; none other than

to knit one's brows (in discomfort, unease, disapproval, etc.); to raise one's eyebrows; to frown

to use up all of one's energy and willpower; to be exhausted (and have no will to go on)

to pour one's heart and soul into

to extend in length (esp. parts of television programs)

in minute detail

to retort; to turn the tables (on someone)

out of the question; preposterous

to keep everybody entertained

to withdraw from someone's presence; to leave the room

taking no notice of; paying no attention to

there is no problem; there is no need to go into details

amateurish and haughty way of doing business

insubstantial; pointless

giving a royal welcome; extending every courtesy

to wet the lips of a dying person; to attend someone's last moments

to put on coquettish airs; to act flirtatiously; to act kittenish