to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)
to grow up; to become an adult
pupil in ... year; student in ... year
private junior high school
taking a junior high-school entrance examination
to wake up; to awake; to awaken to (instinct, ability, perception, etc.); to become aware of; to come to one's senses
aid; assistance; help; cheering; rooting (for); support
cram school; private tutoring school; juku
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
success; passing (e.g. exam); eligibility
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
to prove successful; to take hold; to amount to something
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
conviction; belief; confidence
men and women; man and woman; both sexes; both genders
hedge; fence; border; limit
club activities; extracurricular activities
by gender; according to gender; gender-segregated
misfortune; bad luck; ill luck; ill fortune
senior high school; high school
taking an examination (esp. school and university entrance)
far; distant; distant (past); remote (in time); distant (relationship or kinship); having little to do (with someone); far (from something else in quality, degree, etc.)
noted family; noble family; prestigious school, organization, business, etc.
prominent; leading; foremost; distinguished
school centred on preparing students to get into university; high-level school a person has entered
deviation value (usu. scaled to mean of 50, standard deviation of 10, and often used for academic grades); deviation; T-score; standard score
school grades; academic results
opening; gap; dried and opened fish
one more; another; the other; not quite; not very good
neighbourhood; neighborhood
university; college; former central university of Kyoto (established under the ritsuryo system for the training of government administrators); the Great Learning (one of the Four Books)
hope; promise; expectation; anticipation; side of a structural member
sweet-tasting; sweet; fragrant (smelling); sweet (music); lightly salted; light in salt; naive
tangent point; point of contact; contact (electrical, etc.); point of agreement; common ground
to lose; to miss (a change, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
estrangement; alienation; neglecting to stay in contact
to pass (by) each other; to brush past; to miss (meeting) each other; to fail to meet; to be at odds; to clash
slight bow (as a greeting or sign of gratitude); nod; salutation; consideration; thoughtfulness