whether you like it or not; no matter what one may do; in any event; in any case; (lit.) whether you laugh or cry
library (usu. single-room); small library
first shrine visit of the New Year
to be lost (e.g. luggage); to be missing; to be used up; to be run out; to disappear (e.g. pain); to be lost (e.g. a dream, confidence)
bento; Japanese box lunch
practice; exercise; military exercise; manoeuvres; seminar
samadhi (state of intense concentration achieved through meditation); being immersed in; being absorbed in; prone to; apt to
full of energy; full of liveliness; full of pep
(bulge of one's) biceps; zeal; effort; enthusiasm
number; edition; sobriquet; pen-name; size (of printing types, canvases, knitting needles, etc.); suffix attached to names of ships, trains, airplanes, etc.
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
favorite; favourite; pet (e.g. teacher's pet); bookmark (in a web browser)
studying abroad; (temporarily) studying at another school (to learn a specific skill)
coming to Japan; visit to Japan; arrival in Japan
to surround; to encircle; to enclose; to fawn over (someone); to play up to; to curry favor with
university student; college student
while studying; presently studying
nth-year student; nth-year pupil
prosperity; bustle; activity; crowd; turnout
period of time; time slot; time zone
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
stillness; silence; quiet; hush; calm; serenity
to be full; to wax (e.g. moon); to rise (e.g. tide); to mature; to expire
prayer for success in an entrance exam
excellent luck (esp. in fortune-telling)
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine); omikuji
good luck to come (esp. as an omikuji fortune-telling result); future good luck
full of openings; half empty; (cutting) sharply; cleanly; (arch.) (progressing) smoothly
with a twitch (e.g. an eyebrow); with a dip; with a bob; with a flutter
next; secondly; subsequently
switch; switch; points; switch (from one thing to another); change
oh!; ah!; oh dear!; good grief!; dear me!; thank God!
pride (in one's achievements, possessions, etc.); self-praise; boast
speaking fondly about one's sweetheart (spouse, girlfriend, etc.); going on about one's love affairs
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
genius; prodigy; natural gift
purposely (of something needless, unexpected or seemingly counterproductive, etc.); daringly (doing something); not necessarily; not particularly; (arch.) definitely not
to entrust (to someone); to leave (in someone's hands)
passing mark (examination); passing grade