absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
academic background; academic credentials; academic record
to fuss over; to be particular about; to be obsessive about; to be fixated on; to obstruct; to hinder
everything; all; the whole; entirely; completely; wholly
will; volition; intention; intent; determination
that child; that kid; that boy; (arch.) you
to accept; to receive; to agree
some people; a few people; several people
to be helpful; to be dependable; to stand by (someone)
better; preferable; more; increase; (arch.) increase; (arch.) growth
surroundings; environs; circumference
busy; hurried; confused; flurried
congratulations!; well done!; best wishes!; all the best!
rejection (of an application)
(written) application; written request; petition; written prayer for a shrine or Buddhist temple
the New Year begins; the New Year starts
home area; home town; local
job hunting; job searching
dango; dumpling (usu. sweet); ball-shaped object; something round; lump; group
to also be (implies that as well as the earlier stated this is also the case); to be ... or something
weak; feeble; delicate; frail; helpless
to divide; to cut; to halve; to break; to crack; to dilute; to fall below
dropping out of school; withdrawing from school; expulsion from school; dismissal; leaving school (university, etc.) after completing a course
retirement age; (arch.) years of service in a military rank before eligibility for promotion
and; or; and the like; and so forth; and what not
grandfather (may be used after name as honorific); male senior-citizen (may be used after name as honorific)
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
the last moment; the very end
to be annoying; to be troublesome
speaker; narrator; speaker (of a language)
to protect (someone); to look after (e.g. an injured leg); to defend; to cover for; to stand up for; to stick up for
long ago; already; a long time ago
to introduce; to compare; to check; to adjust; to pull into place
to get on well (with a person); (lit.) to be a good match with one's horse (e.g. of a rider)
to resign; to retire; to quit; to leave (one's job, etc.)
to be (animate); to be; to be ..ing; to (have the audacity to) do
at any rate; anyhow; anyway; in any case; because; as you know
working adult; full-fledged member of society
homeroom; form room; form class
row of cherry trees (lining a street)
preservation; conservation; storage; saving (e.g. to disk)