endorsing and questioning the preceding statement; lamenting reflections on the preceding statement
I fear that it's likely that; with all due respect
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
clumsy; awkward; tactless; awkward (e.g. socially); (arch.) mean; (arch.) cowardly
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
circumference; girth; surroundings; neighbourhood; people surrounding oneself; surrounding circumstances
entering a higher-level school, esp. going on to university
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
firmly; absolutely; flatly; by far; far and away; by a long shot
Kanagawa prefecture (Kanto area)
rate of advancement to the next higher level of education
nature; natural; spontaneous; naturally; spontaneously
head; hair (on one's head); mind; brains; leader; chief; top
actually; really; truly; in practice; practically
to go to and from (a place); to go back and forth between; to go to (school, work, etc.); to attend; to circulate (e.g. blood, electricity); to be communicated (e.g. thought)
bodily sensation; sense; experience
continuing one's education into university
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
studying for a test (esp. school or university entrance examinations)
relatively; comparatively
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
good; advantage; sake; purpose; consequence; result
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
numeral; figure; digit; numeric character
rate; ratio; comparatively; contrary to expectations
not less than; ... and over; beyond (e.g. one's expectations); above; above-mentioned; aforementioned
finding employment; getting a job
truth; reality; proper; right; genuine; authentic
small fraction; small proportion
vocational school; technical school
to occupy; to hold; to account for; to make up; to take up
with a feeling of relief; with a sigh of relief; deeply (sigh)
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
alone; by oneself; on one's own
to raise; to rear; to train; to teach; to promote the growth of; to nurture
burden; load; responsibility; bearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.); shouldering
finally; at last; barely; narrowly; gradually; little by little
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
to be able (to); to be possible (to)
to get to know each other; to make acquaintance