The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling: Chapters 5–8

by Wai Chim
Anna Chiu is a high-schooler who tries to hold her family together as her mother struggles with mental illness.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Mom–Chapter 4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–21, Chapter 22–Mom
35 words 11 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. stilted
    artificially formal or stiff
    He’s not much of a talker, and what he does say is rather stilted and formal.
  2. idle
    lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
    “Idle minds lead to idle thoughts.”
  3. lament
    regret strongly
    “He got a job at the Chinese restaurant at the local veterans club. What’s the point?” Baba laments.
  4. illicit
    contrary to or forbidden by law
    She strewed everything about, socks and bras and undies, until she found the pencil box Lily used to store her illicit jewelry.
  5. incite
    provoke or stir up
    Lily doesn’t agree with me, but it’s just not worth it to incite Ma’s wrath.
  6. traverse
    journey across or pass over
    More groaning, and I swear Mr. Murray lets out a not-so-subtle chuckle as he traverses up and down the rows, handing back papers.
  7. lope
    run easily
    The red mark at the top of the page takes up way more space than it needs to. It’s meant to highlight a single line, but instead it lopes across the top paragraph like an elephant onto a stage.
  8. flair
    a natural talent
    Mr. Murray is well-known for his flair for the dramatic, but I think three question marks is overdoing it.
  9. demure
    suggestive of modesty or reserve
    Plus, in the top-right corner, where my grade is supposed to be, he’s written a demure little SEE ME, just a pinkie’s-width high.
  10. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Your overall arguments and summaries are fine—not remarkable or particularly astute, by any means, but fine.
  11. olfactory
    of or relating to the sense of smell
    Your analysis of Lady Macbeth’s madness, for example, and your interesting observation of the brain’s ability to manifest olfactory experience into memory—that’s powerful stuff.
  12. flourish
    a showy gesture
    He hands me back my paper with a flourish.
  13. autonomy
    political independence
    But the Occupy Central protest had been led by young people who wanted to challenge the Communist Party’s increasing authority that took away the autonomy they had been promised.
  14. compendium
    a publication containing a variety of works
    The girl stands fiercely beside him, her thin fingers clutching a thick compendium, her lips pursed and ready to speak.
  15. noncommittal
    refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action
    He nods, accepting my noncommittal reply.
  16. mull
    reflect deeply on a subject
    He keeps repeating the host as I mull over the words I want to say next.
  17. equity
    difference between value of a property and claims against it
    “Equity management and diversified assets.”
  18. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    I’ve come to realize, though, that Jade Palace isn’t just a restaurant to Baba, it’s his second home, maybe even his first, and I can’t begrudge him that little bit of comfort.
  19. lewd
    suggestive of or tending to moral looseness
    There’s plenty of swearing and lewd comments thrown around, which is probably another reason why Ma doesn’t approve.
  20. dodgy
    marked by skill in deception
    There’s no arguing, because in Baba’s world, cash is king. I try not to think about what kind of dodgy math is involved with those declarations.
  21. proxy
    a person authorized to act for another
    I have never figured out how to speak to older Chinese adults, especially when they all think they have the right to proxy-parent you.
  22. exhort
    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
    Before I can exhort him for a story, Lim storms in from the back entrance.
  23. reprimand
    censure severely or angrily
    “She doesn’t like to be called that,” Ah-Jeff reprimands.
  24. julienne
    cut into long thin strips
    When I first started in the kitchen, I was terrified of julienning the tips of my fingers, but now I’m hardly even looking as I pass the quarters of cabbage through the sharp blade.
  25. predecessor
    one who goes before you in time
    I can’t believe he’s trying to prove he’s better than his predecessor, even though he’s thinking of leaving.
  26. diligence
    a hard-working effort
    “You work hard, Anna,” Ah-Jeff says hours later, after service is finished. “You have your father’s diligence.”
  27. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Miss Chen scrutinizes me from behind thick metal specs.
  28. bemuse
    cause to be confused emotionally
    I can’t interpret the expression in her heavily done-up eyes, but it’s something between nosiness, maternal care, and bemusement.
  29. nepotism
    favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
    “I’m Anna. I’m the owner’s daughter.” Ugh, what nepotism.
  30. benison
    a spoken blessing
    “God’s benison go with you and with those that would make good of bad and friends of foes.”
  31. shambles
    a condition of great disorder
    The kitchen is in a shambles, and we’re all desperately trying to keep up with the pace.
  32. temperamental
    likely to perform unpredictably
    The second fryer is a bit temperamental and I’ve burned a few dozen, along with my fingers, but there’s no time to stop and cool them or even feel the pain.
  33. straggler
    someone who strays or falls behind
    Around ten p.m., the last stragglers of the party leave.
  34. crestfallen
    brought low in spirit
    “Anna, you stay home. That’s final.”
    I’m crestfallen, but Baba is done with our conversation.
  35. solemn
    characterized by a firm belief in your opinions
    “You were good today, Anna. Real good. Your father doesn’t want to worry about you, but the restaurant could use the extra help.” He gives me a solemn nod.
Created on Fri Mar 11 09:06:33 EST 2022 (updated Fri Apr 01 14:27:33 EDT 2022)

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