The Ch'i-lin Purse: List 2

by Linda Fang
This list covers "The Ho-shih Jade" and "The Prime Minister and the General."

Here are links to our lists for the book: List 1, List 2, List 3
30 words 40 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. envoy
    someone on a mission to represent another's interests
    During the period of the Warring States, the kings of China made war on one another, fighting for power and land. When tired of fighting, they would send envoys to negotiate a settlement.
  2. negotiate
    discuss the terms of an arrangement
    During the period of the Warring States, the kings of China made war on one another, fighting for power and land. When tired of fighting, they would send envoys to negotiate a settlement.
  3. appraise
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    When he asked a jade expert to appraise it, he was told that it was the famous Ho-shih Jade, named after Pien Ho, the man who discovered it.
  4. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
    This jade was the rarest kind of precious stone in the world. In the dark, it was luminous; indoors, it would keep a room warm in winter and cool in summer and repel insects.
  5. repel
    force or drive back
    This jade was the rarest kind of precious stone in the world. In the dark, it was luminous; indoors, it would keep a room warm in winter and cool in summer and repel insects.
  6. undertake
    enter upon an activity or enterprise
    He was delighted to find Lin Hsiang-ju an unusually intelligent man, but to make sure that he was capable of undertaking the task, the king asked, “The king of Ch’in has offered to exchange fifteen cities for the Ho-shih Jade; do you think that I should accept his offer?”
  7. courteous
    characterized by politeness and gracious good manners
    “The king of Ch’in is offering a high price for the jade,” said Lin Hsiang-ju. “If we do not accept the offer, it will make us look very bad. If we present the jade to the king of Ch’in before he gives us fifteen cities, it will show that we are sincere and courteous. If the king of Ch’in denies us the fifteen cities when he has the jade in his hand, he will be in the wrong!” Lin Hsiang-ju paused, waiting to see the king’s reaction.
  8. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    After several days of preparation, including a five-day fast and a solemn farewell ceremony, Lin Hsiang-ju took the Ho-shih Jade and set out for Hsien-yang, the capital of Ch’in, accompanied only by a guard.
  9. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    Seated on his throne and flanked by his officials, he summoned Lin Hsiang-ju to the palace as soon as he arrived.
  10. immaculate
    free from stain or blemish
    The king opened the pouch and carefully removed its contents. Immaculate, the stone gleamed in his hands. It was truly a rare treasure.
  11. concubine
    a woman who cohabits with an important man
    The king of Ch’in then ordered his servant to take the jade to his wives and concubines and show it to them.
  12. ploy
    a maneuver in a game, conversation, or situation
    Ta-wang wrote to the king of Chao offering fifteen cities for the jade. His Majesty discussed the proposal with his officials, who felt it might be a ploy and tried to dissuade him from accepting the offer.
  13. dissuade
    turn away from by persuasion
    Ta-wang wrote to the king of Chao offering fifteen cities for the jade. His Majesty discussed the proposal with his officials, who felt it might be a ploy and tried to dissuade him from accepting the offer.
  14. relinquish
    part with a possession or right
    In order to please Ta-wang, His Majesty the king of Chao was willing to relinquish the jade.
  15. protocol
    forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
    When they had all arrived, the king of Ch’in summoned his official of protocol to escort Lin Hsiang-ju to the throne room.
  16. treacherous
    dangerously unstable and unpredictable
    Lin Hsiang-ju replied, “Since King Mu’s reign, there have been twenty kings in the state of Ch’in, and all were treacherous and dishonest. Ta-wang has a similar reputation. For fear of being cheated and unable to fulfill my king’s task, I ordered my guard to take the jade back to my king. For this I deserve death; please do with me whatever Ta-wang pleases.”
  17. caldron
    a very large pot that is used for boiling
    Ta-wang might as well throw me into a caldron of boiling oil, so that all the kings will know that Ta-wang killed the envoy of Chao in his effort to possess the Ho-shih Jade.
  18. ingenuity
    the property of showing inventiveness and skill
    The king of Chao was so pleased with Lin Hsiang-ju’s courage and ingenuity that he appointed him one of his highest-ranking officials.
  19. ascension
    the act of changing location in an upward direction
    As General Lien P’o stood by the side of the road seeing the king off, he said, “Ch’en cannot predict what is going to happen on this trip. If Ta-wang does not return to Chao in thirty days, please allow Ch’en and the high officials of the court to support T’ai-tzu’s ascension to the throne, so that the king of Ch’in will gain nothing from the state of Chao by detaining Ta-wang.”
  20. detain
    cause to be slowed down or delayed
    As General Lien P’o stood by the side of the road seeing the king off, he said, “Ch’en cannot predict what is going to happen on this trip. If Ta-wang does not return to Chao in thirty days, please allow Ch’en and the high officials of the court to support T’ai-tzu’s ascension to the throne, so that the king of Ch’in will gain nothing from the state of Chao by detaining Ta-wang.”
  21. reluctantly
    with a certain degree of unwillingness
    The king of Ch’in ordered one of his servants to bring in the se—a stringed wooden instrument—and place it on the table in front of the king of Chao. Reluctantly, the king of Chao played a tune.
  22. reprimand
    rebuke formally
    The officials of Ch’in began to reprimand Lin Hsiang-ju. Some wanted to have him arrested.
  23. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    “Tell me,” said Lin Hsiang-ju, “who is more formidable: the king of Ch’in or General Lien P’o?”
  24. humiliate
    cause to feel shame
    “That’s right. If you remember how I defeated the king’s attempts to seize the Ho-shih Jade and to humiliate our king at Mien-ch’ih, you should know that I was not intimidated by the king of Ch’in at all...."
  25. intimidate
    compel or deter by or as if by threats
    “That’s right. If you remember how I defeated the king’s attempts to seize the Ho-shih Jade and to humiliate our king at Mien-ch’ih, you should know that I was not intimidated by the king of Ch’in at all...."
  26. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
    Lien P’o became more and more arrogant. Seeing that Lin Hsiang-ju no longer attended court meetings, he began to believe that his rival really was afraid of him.
  27. penitent
    a person who repents for wrongdoing
    Lien P’o followed the tradition of that time and dressed himself like a public penitent.
  28. tolerate
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    “I was blind enough not to see that Ch’eng-shiang was tolerating me for the sake of our country,” said Lien P’o as tears rolled down his cheeks.
  29. prosperous
    in fortunate circumstances financially
    From that time on, Lin Hsiang-ju and Lien P’o always got along. Chao became safe, prosperous, and strong for many years.
  30. discord
    lack of agreement or harmony
    The king of Chao was very pleased that the discord was resolved between his two most important officials.
Created on Sun Dec 20 20:45:48 EST 2020 (updated Wed Dec 23 13:00:32 EST 2020)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.