point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
fast; quick; early (in the day, etc.); premature; (too) soon; not yet
to be sensible; to be smart; to be tasteful; to be thoughtful; to be tactful; to be sensitive
housework; domestic chores; family affairs; household matters
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
originally; by nature; from the start
grounding (in a skill or subject); knowledge; training; achievements; attainments; accomplishments
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
taking an examination (esp. school and university entrance)
room for growth; potential; promise
to factor in; to take into account; to include in one's considerations
what's the matter?; what's wrong?; what happened (to) ...?; what have you done (with) ...?; where is ...?
to shake one's head (in denial)
to chip; to nick; to break; to lack
going on about oneself; talking about oneself
to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze; to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice); to extort
advice; counsel; suggestion; tip; hint
to suffer; to groan; to be worried
national language; Japanese language (often as a school subject in Japan); native Japanese words (as opposed to loanwords)
trouble; hardship; difficulty; anxiety; worry; concern
law; act; method; mood; dharma; law
as a child; when one was a child
examination; quiz; test; tryout; rehearsal (in filming)
is never the case; has never happened
creator (of a work); author; writer; artist; composer; playwright
not to mention ...; needless to say ...; not to speak of ...; (arch.) negligent; (arch.) neglectful; (arch.) careless
posing a question; question
person who sets questions (for an exam or quiz)
archaic word; obsolete word; old saying; old adage; old language; ancient language
ancient writing (i.e. Edo-period or older); classical literature; ancient Chinese character (pre-Qin period)
society; public; community; social studies
memorization; memorisation; learning by heart
history of Japan; Japanese history
world history; international history