Year of Impossible Goodbyes: Chapters 5–6

by Sook Nyul Choi
After suffering under the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II and the subsequent rule by communist Russia, Sookan and her family attempt a daring escape to South Korea.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapter 1, Chapters 2–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapter 7–Epilogue
45 words 13 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. sustain
    lengthen or extend in duration or space
    The smile could hardly be sustained on her pale and feverish features.
  2. serene
    not agitated
    I stared at the stone statue sitting so serenely.
  3. fruitless
    unproductive of success
    The students clapped their hands and began rolling with laughter as they watched the Imperial police struggle fruitlessly.
  4. loom
    appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    Up ahead loomed the big gray schoolhouse.
  5. gruff
    blunt and unfriendly or stern
    The other girls who were mutely standing in line looked at Unhi with displeasure. Unhi ignored them. Though her manner was gruff, I knew I had made a friend.
  6. kimono
    a loose robe originating in Japan
    A short thin woman in a dark blue and white Japanese kimono with a cherry blossom print stood directly in front of me.
  7. pedestal
    an architectural support or base
    All the students turned to the right and faced a pedestal on which something sat shrouded by a curtain with a golden tassel.
  8. shroud
    cover as if with a burial garment
    All the students turned to the right and faced a pedestal on which something sat shrouded by a curtain with a golden tassel.
  9. ceremonious
    characterized by pomp and stately display
    He clapped his hands and then walked over to the shrine on the pedestal and pulled the gold rope ceremoniously.
  10. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
    Everyone looked up reverently as the curtain parted.
  11. enshrine
    enclose in a place of worship
    The Japanese god’s image was enshrined there, but we couldn’t see anything.
  12. rasp
    speak in a harsh, grating voice
    “The Heavenly Emperor is too divine to be gazed upon by human eyes,” she rasped.
  13. respective
    considered individually
    The curtain was slowly drawn shut and the “Kimigayo” played again as we marched to our respective rooms.
  14. ration
    the food allowance for one day
    I knew that if I did not behave, they might cut our rice ration or do something worse.
  15. fatigues
    military uniform worn by personnel when doing menial labor
    One was a picture of two Japanese pilots standing in front of a shiny airplane with Japanese flags painted on the wings. The other was a picture of two tall American soldiers in green fatigues, their faces painted black.
  16. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    Their planes were dirty and dilapidated.
  17. tedious
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
    There was no break from these tedious recitations.
  18. unison
    the act of occurring together or simultaneously
    “Hai, Sensei!” the children shouted in unison.
  19. drone
    talk in a monotonous voice
    The principal kept droning on and on about the White Devils until suddenly one of the big boys shouted, “Stop, stop, stop! Don’t you know that we will stab you bastards first! We’ll help the Americans destroy you all! You killers!”
  20. appease
    overcome or allay
    We chewed on dandelion roots to try to appease our hunger, but our stomachs ached.
  21. sweltering
    excessively hot and humid; marked by sweating and faintness
    The long days of summer were swelteringly humid, and the dense air weighed heavily upon us.
  22. delirium
    a usually brief state of excitement and mental confusion
    She lay in bed burning with fever. She could not retain any food. She became thinner and paler each day. Sometimes she would mumble and cry in a delirium.
  23. exception
    an instance that does not conform to a rule
    Aunt Tiger sent Kisa to the convent to see if they had any special medicine. She also wanted to know if the convent would make an exception and let Theresa come home for a few days.
  24. tinge
    a slight but appreciable amount
    Whenever Mother spoke of Theresa, I couldn’t help feeling a tinge of jealousy.
  25. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    He swung his arms back and forth vigorously to help propel himself to town.
  26. forsake
    leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
    Mother closed her eyes and whispered, “I knew my God would not forsake me.”
  27. resent
    feel bitter or indignant about
    I hoped my father and brothers would return soon, and I wished that Theresa would come home. I resented all of them for being away, especially now when Mother was so sick.
  28. defile
    spot, stain, or pollute
    Kisa told us that some of the Koreans were so overjoyed to be free of the Japanese that they were smashing the Shinto shrines and defiling the temples.
  29. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
    But they had been too impetuous.
  30. abreast
    being up to date in knowledge
    Inchun and I stayed indoors with Mother for the next few days while Aunt Tiger and Kisa went about keeping abreast of the latest happenings.
  31. barren
    providing no shelter or sustenance
    With Kisa’s help, Inchun and I staked out a small plot in the front yard, and put some rope up around it. Then, Inchun and I dug furrows in the barren earth.
  32. flourish
    a showy gesture
    “Well, now you can do whatever you want.” Inchun plopped himself down in front of the scholar's desk and with a flourish picked up a brush.
  33. sonata
    a musical composition of movements of contrasting forms
    I ran to Mother’s room, took out the record player that the nuns had given me, and dragged out all four of my records: the Brahms lullabies, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart sonatas, and a collection of American songs with “Oh My Darling Clementine” and “Home on the Range.”
  34. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    One day, Aunt Tiger came back from one of her excursions and said, “I hear most of the Japanese soldiers and the police have left. It’s safe for us to go anywhere we want now, I think. I want to go see the Naritas’ house. Now I’d like to take a walk there and enjoy myself.”
  35. subservience
    abject or cringing submissiveness
    Korean flags were proudly flying in front of almost every home. Gone were the gray uniforms and the masses of silent people walking with their heads lowered in subservience and fear.
  36. bustle
    move or cause to move energetically or busily
    We walked through the bustling streets of Kirimni and turned toward the hills.
  37. procession
    the action of a group moving ahead in regular formation
    There were many funeral processions every day, and wailing and sobbing filled the air.
  38. hail
    praise loudly and forcefully
    Some of our neighbors said they liked the Russians for chasing out the Japanese, and hailed them as liberators.
  39. liberator
    someone who releases people from captivity or bondage
    Some of our neighbors said they liked the Russians for chasing out the Japanese, and hailed them as liberators.
  40. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    While I was humming “Swannee River,” Inchun got up and peered out the rice-paper paneled door. He beckoned to me.
  41. ravenous
    devouring or craving food in great quantities
    They both ate so ravenously that I thought if they gave us a hard time, I could offer them some of the rice cakes that Aunt Tiger had made.
  42. adorn
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
    Watches covered his entire forearm, so he checked his other arm, already adorned with several watches.
  43. trinket
    a small cheap ornament, knickknack, or piece of jewelry
    Alarm clocks and trinkets hung from their thick leather belts, which clanked and jingled as they walked.
  44. deem
    judge or regard in a particular way
    Having taken everything they deemed valuable, they came over to us.
  45. tender
    given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
    Looking at us tenderly, he bent down and pointed to himself. “Ivan Malenkiv,” he said.
Created on Tue May 21 15:23:31 EDT 2019 (updated Tue May 21 15:39:54 EDT 2019)

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