to work hard at one's lessons
fusuma; Japanese sliding screen
often; frequently; lightly (of a movement); easily; simply
staring-out (down) game; game in which two children looking at each other try to make the opponents laugh first; constant looking at something (e.g. the computer screen, the clock, etc.)
helping hand; help; support; aid
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
(powers of) concentration; ability to concentrate
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
ticktock; chinking (e.g. of a hammer against rock); knocking; dry and hard; (frozen) stiff; hidebound
with a click (door sound); with tenseness or firmness
mechanical pencil; automatic pencil
finally; in the end; on top of all that
circle and cross; right and wrong (answers); true-false
worth; merit; value; good point; redeeming feature; saving grace
senior high school student
duty; obligation; responsibility
to teach thoroughly; to instill (into); to instil; to inculcate; to drum (into); to drill (into)
to make a fist; to clench one's fist
every corner; every nook and cranny; all the ins and outs
private tutor; coach; governess
relation; relative; kind; cordial
beginning; clue; starting point
having no choice; at a loss for what to do; at one's wits' end
for a short while; for a brief period; soon; in a short while
to relax; to feel at home
primary school; elementary school; grade school
adventure; venture; venture which is unlikely to succeed; risky attempt; danger
account; history; chronicle; Kojiki; Records of Ancient Matters
spine (of book); binding (of book)
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
one copy (of a book, magazine, etc.); one volume
thick; deep; kind; cordial; abundant
cover (of a book, magazine, etc.); binding; appearing on the cover of a magazine