self-confidence; confidence (in oneself)
non-slip device (material, tread, etc.); non-skid; anti-slip; back-up option (esp. with regard to university admissions); back-up choice; insurance choice
to work hard at one's lessons
to bite into; to sink one's teeth into; to stick to; to cling to; to hold on to
congratulations!; well done!; best wishes!; all the best!
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
with no regard to appearances; without caring about how one looks
decreasing (graph falling to the right); shrinking; declining
rising; ascending; climbing
to turn; to shift; to switch; to change; to alter
to recover; to rally; to improve; to carry in a different way; to change one's grip (on); to shift (a bag, etc.) from one hand to the other
wish; desire; ambition; choice
to be able to reach; to be within one's reach; to be able to afford; to be near (a certain age)
to sum up; to summarize; to summarise
state of mind; mentality; psychology
two times; twice; two degrees
always; all the time; constantly; frequently; often
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
to comfort; to console; to amuse
third year of high school; third-year high-school student
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
National Center Test for University Admissions
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
field of vision; view; one's outlook (e.g. on life); one's horizons
definite; final; decisive; conclusive
in any case; at any rate; anyhow; anyway; as you know; for you see
preliminary step; first step
encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)
postscript; PS; P.S.; pipe shaft (in a building); riser shaft
to tighten; to fasten tight; to constrict; to control strictly; to put pressure on; to squeeze (e.g. an economy)
unfinished (letter, text, etc.); drafted (e.g. manuscript); half-written; partially finished
completely; absolutely; (not) at all; (not) a bit; earnestly; intently
to be buried; to be covered; to overflow; to be crowded; to be repaid (e.g. debt); to be replenished
to become desperate; to give in to despair
even; if only; if just; as long as; the only thing needed
negative (e.g. thinking); negative; negative (electrical polarity)
pitch-black; jet-black; strongly tanned; deeply sunburnt; sooty; black with dirt
to come to one's senses; to calm down
to write out; to make a fair copy; to rewrite
youth; adolescence; springtime of life
rejoicing; glorification; exultation; celebration; enjoyment; singing praises
to experience (something unpleasant); to go through; to suffer
point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
studies; schoolwork; classwork