examination war; fiercely competitive university entrance examinations
winner; victor; conqueror
middle; midway; middle position; moderate position; interim; intermediary
fresh in one's mind; fresh in one's memory
otherwise; or else; if not
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
winter vacation; winter holidays
taking an examination (esp. school and university entrance)
cram school; private tutoring school; juku
private tutor; coach; governess
frequency (of occurrence)
to start a journey; to embark on a trip; to set forth; to hit the trail
don't let your guard down; carelessness is the great enemy; danger comes soonest when it is despised
failure (in an examination); failing to advance (to the next year); falling short of the standard; not making the grade
several weeks; a few weeks
March; third month of the lunar calendar
four-panel comic strip; yonkoma
frame (e.g. of film, panel in a comic, etc.); scene; time block (e.g. of a class schedule)
rest period; intermission; break time; recess
one scene; one frame; one shot; one cell; one panel (comic)
to draw the line (between two situations); to make a clear distinction; to make it clear where one stands; to take clear responsibility for (mistakes, etc.)
looking aside; (from the) eyes of an onlooker
cash; ready money; money on hand; mercenary; self-interested; calculating
one's heart's desire; one's dearest wish
to hold (someone) down; to pin down; to wrestle to the ground
to put clothes on (someone); to dress; to cover; to coat; to pin (e.g. a crime on someone); to lay (blame)
to protrude; to stick out; to be forced out; to be pushed out; to go over (e.g. a budget); to go beyond
probability; likelihood; chances
portion; part; snapshot; glimpse
rough (touch, voice, etc.); coarse; gritty; rattling (of beans, beads, etc.)
charming; captivating; bewitching; seductive; coquettish
shivering; feeling chilly; shuddering (with fear); feeling creepy; thrilled; excited
base of the throat; bottom of the neck
to make narrower; to shut (an umbrella); to shrug (one's shoulders); to purse (one's lips)
to sink (into); to get depressed
being able to do as one pleases; doing at will; pothook
transformation; variation; metamorphosis; modification; deformation; variety
strength and weakness; (degree of) strength; stress (of a sound); loudness
to sound shrill (of a voice); to sound high-pitched and excited; to get excited; to become restless; to be thrown too high; to come in high
some; (a) little; somewhat; to some extent; in part
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; (lit.) to be packed to the hilt
pot; jar; dice cup; depression; basin (e.g. of a waterfall); aim; what one wants