competitive entrance examinations for prestigious kindergartens and elementary schools
to dig down; to dig into (a matter); to delve into; to probe into
how many years; how long; what year
name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era name
to make sound (of an animal); to call; to cry; to make a meld call (e.g. pung, kong)
Japanese bush warbler (Horornis diphone); Japanese nightingale; greenish brown; having a beautiful voice
smoothly; easily; readily
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
measurement; size; extent; plan; intention; arrangement
close; intimate; on good terms
to like; to love; to be fond of
not only ... (but also); not merely; as well as; furthermore; besides; moreover
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
even if not; even without
unity; union; solidarity; combination; teaming up
will; testament; last request
to press down; to hold down; to pin down; to suppress (feelings, disorder, opposition, etc.); to repress
life; living; I; me; student
carefully; thoroughly; fully; deliberately
beautiful woman; (a) beauty
to collect oneself; to cool off; to recover oneself
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
hold; catch; connection; relationship; unease; discomfort
seat; place; position; status; gathering; party; stand
to backfire; to have a harmful result
established practice; custom
brush tip; first on a list; head; chief
head; leader; top; (arch.) important part
battle formation; camp; encampment; group; gang; war
array; muster; line-up; full force
to mend; to patch up; to fix (hair, clothes, appearance, etc.); to adjust; to keep up appearances; to cover up (e.g. a mistake)
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)
to be suspicious of; to be doubtful of; to be dubious of
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder