The Joy Luck Club Vocab I

Cooed

Spoke in a gentle voice

Mah Jong

Chinese tile game

Aneurysm

Ballooned and weakened area in an artery

Anchoring

Sticking/attaching

Rickshaw

Two-wheeled vehicle drawn by people

Bowels

The deepest part of something OR hollow tube in stomach

Ingots

A flat rectangular block of precious metal

Gruel

Thin porridge

Compressed

Pressed together or combined

Nubby

Coarse in texture

Candelabra

Branched candle-holder

Consulate

Building for foreign ambassador or diplomat

Cilantro

Leafy green

Camphor

A white strong smelling substance used to treat colds

Chenille

Yarn made of wool, cotton, silk, or rayon

Recoup

To regain or recover

Dutiful

Responsibility for fulfilling one’s duties

Dowry

Marriage gifts/money

Concubine

Prostitute

Carats

Unit of weight for precious stones (equal to 200mg)

Betrothed

Engaged/planned to be married

Pretense

A false or ambitious claim

Prestige

High status or standing

Warlord

Leader in war/general

Palaquin

Large box carried by people used to transport someone