pulp fiction; dime novel; akahon; university entrance exam workbook (published by Kyōgakusha); storybook (with red cover, Edo period); Red Guide (Michelin)
reality; actuality; hard fact
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
to subsist; to keep on living
failing mark (e.g. in exam)
repeating a year (at school); staying in the same class for another year
dot; spot; mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; point (in a game); score; point (in geometry)
national language; Japanese language (often as a school subject in Japan); native Japanese words (as opposed to loanwords)
ancient writing (i.e. Edo-period or older); classical literature; ancient Chinese character (pre-Qin period)
passing (a test, examination, etc.); pass (for admission, transport, etc.); ticket; pass (of a ball); (giving something a) pass; skipping (one's turn)
inflecting dependent word (in Japanese); bound auxiliary; auxiliary verb (in languages other than Japanese)
to take lessons in; to be taught; to learn (from a teacher); to study (under a teacher); to get training in
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
not yet fixed; undecided; pending
piece of paper; slip of paper; strip of paper; scrap of paper
the future (usually distant); future tense; the world to come
two classes; double; two sets
urgent; pressing; immediate; urgently; promptly; at once
won't; hasn't; isn't; won't you
habit (often a bad habit, i.e. vice); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
we are of equal status in this regard; we are in the same boat; the same to you; the feeling is mutual
(powers of) concentration; ability to concentrate
continuation; rest (of the story, work, etc.); flow (e.g. of a piece of writing); pacing (of a story); succession (of); sequence
to be in high spirits; to be full of vigor (vigour); to be enthusiastic; to be eager; to stretch to breaking point
excuse me for disturbing (interrupting) you; greeting used when entering someone's home
broadcasting; broadcast; program; announcement
paying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); reap what you sow
to get to know each other; to make acquaintance
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
to draw; to paint; to depict; to describe; to picture in one's mind; to imagine
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
horizontal (as opposed to vertical); lying down; side-to-side (as opposed to front-to-back); width; side (of a box, etc.); beside
to rely on; to depend on; to count on; to turn to (for help)
don't you think?; indicates question
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to look down on (someone); to make fun of
always; constantly; frequently; often; nonstop
quirk of fate; curious coincidence; happy chance
certain; sure; doubtless; I have no doubt; You can depend on it; It's a safe bet
primary school; elementary school; grade school