root (of a plant); root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.); root (of all evil, etc.); source; one's true nature
to stuff into; to jam; to shorten; to move closer together; to reduce (spending); to conserve; to focus intently on
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
to paint (draw) a picture
both; both sides; both parties
to study; to complete (a course); to order (one's life); to repair (a fault one has committed)
not worth considering; out of the question
superior; excellent; brilliant; outstanding
results; record; grades; marks
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)
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
preparatory school (for entrance examinations); cram school; cramming school
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
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
common sense; good sense; common knowledge; general knowledge; common practice; accepted practice
understanding; comprehension; appreciation; sympathy
with a clashing or clanging sound
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
miserable; pitiable; shameful; deplorable; pathetic
to achieve results; to be successful (in a venture, etc.)
to discuss; to talk together
(not) ever; (not) by any means; (not) in the least; (not) in any way; (not) at all
negligent; careless; slipshod; slovenly; reckless; irresponsible
will; volition; intention; intent; determination
standing facing each other (e.g. mountains, buildings); standing opposite each other; confrontation; squaring off against (adversaries, armies, forces); standing off against
not exceeding; and downward; below (e.g. standard); under (e.g. a level); the below-mentioned; the following
once; for a short time; briefly; (arch.) one morning
joint (knee, elbow, etc.)
amateur; layman; respectable woman (i.e. not a prostitute, hostess, geisha); (arch.) unlicensed prostitute
single word; a few words; brief comment
when one was a very young child; very early in one's life
over-fond parent; doting parent
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
clamour; clamor; uproar; tumult; furore; furor
one's father; one's old man; middle-aged (or older) man; old man; one's boss; proprietor (of a restaurant, store, etc.)
thoroughness; completeness; consistency; thorough enforcement; seeing to it that a policy, etc. is carried out without exception
strict; severe; stern; rigid; rigorous; tough
memory; recollection; remembrance; storage
poor; meagre; meager; feeble; scanty; shabby
tenth day of the month; ten days
memories; recollections; reminiscence