vicious circle; vicious cycle
academic background; academic credentials; academic record
scholarly ability; scholarship; knowledge; literary ability
prime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premier
the problem (at issue); the point at issue; problematic issue; problem
to glide; to slide (e.g. on skis); to fail (an examination); to bomb (when telling a joke); to drop; to go down
smartly dressed; stylish; someone smartly dressed; to dress up; to be fashionable
entering a higher-level school, esp. going on to university
system; organization; organisation; imperial command; laws; regulation
chief; main; principal; important
Western-style clothes (cf. traditional Japanese clothes)
fall; decline; lowering; deterioration; degradation
equality; impartiality; evenness
finding employment; getting a job
system; institution; organization; organisation
rate; ratio; proportion; percentage
textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
to accompany; to follow; to keep up with
dining room; dining hall; cafeteria; restaurant; eatery; snack bar
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
challenge; defiance; dare; attempt; try
duty; obligation; responsibility
(social) position; status
numeral; figure; digit; numeric character
to point; to nominate; to select someone; to identify; to indicate; to play (a game of shogi)
common sense; good sense; common knowledge; general knowledge; common practice; accepted practice
basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation
calculation; reckoning; count; forecast
way; method; means; resource; course
education; schooling; training; culture; cultivation; education
to state; to express; to mention
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
environment; circumstance
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow; reward
to suit; to match; to become; to be like
pupil; student; schoolchild
to suffer; to groan; to be worried