ronin; masterless samurai; high school graduate waiting for another chance to enter university after having failed the yearly entrance examination; person out of work; jobless person; (arch.) wanderer
life; living; livelihood; (one's) living
et cetera; etc.; or something; the likes of; for example; for instance
route; course; path; one's future course (e.g. after graduating high school)
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
don't you think?; indicates question
non-slip device (material, tread, etc.); non-skid; anti-slip; back-up option (esp. with regard to university admissions); back-up choice; insurance choice
to; for; in order to; for; as for; regarding
to reach one's ears; to come to one's knowledge; to hear about; to enter one's ears (e.g. of water)
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
favorite (to win); favourite; one's heart's desire; first choice; chocolate given to a man on Valentine's day out of genuine sentiment
national; founded and run by the central government
university; college; former imperial university of Japan (established under the ritsuryō system for the training of government administrators); the Great Learning (one of the Four Books)
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
result; consequence; consequently; as a result; as a result of; following
waiting; waiting time; wait tile; tile which would complete one's hand
should (be); bound (to be); nock (of a bow); nock (of an arrow); nock-shaped grip (between thumb and forefinger); wooden frame on the tip of the mast of a Japanese ship that prevents the hawser from falling out
an instant; a split second; no time at all; (lit.) time of an "ah!"
(period of) a year; during the era (of)
being unfamiliar with a locality; not knowing one's way around; (lit.) not knowing one's right hand from the left; being clueless
as (it is); remaining (in a state); with (e.g. one's eyes closed, the light on); while (e.g. standing, alive); as (one pleases, one is told, etc.); according to
admission (to a school or university); entrance; enrolment; enrollment; matriculation
assistance; help; aid; support; reinforcement
little by little; bit by bit
to get used to; to grow accustomed to; to become skilled in; to become experienced at; to become tame; to become domesticated
before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
time; hour; occasion; case; chance; opportunity
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
fullness; completeness; enhancement; improvement; replenishment; repletion
proof; testimony; demonstration; verification; certification
that's the way it is; yes; is that so?; is it?
it seems; I think; I guess; right?; don't you agree?
new student; freshman; first-year student
representation; representative; exemplification; typification; leader; switchboard number
to begin; to start; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)
school inter-class competition (esp. ball games)
(school) athletic festival; sports day; field day
school festival; cultural festival; annual open day school event showcasing student talent