elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress
elective subject or course
ignoring (one thing) for (another)
system; institution; organization; organisation
space; room; vacancy; opening; free time; time to spare
to stare fixedly at; to fix one's gaze on; to make sure of; to set one's eyes on (e.g. the future); to focus on
to join (hands); to take (each other's hands); to scramble for; to struggle for; to pay attention to; to take notice of
anxiously; with anxious looks; with anxiety
stiff (atmosphere, manner, etc.); cold; unfriendly; thin and bony; scrawny
taking a breather; relaxation; vent hole
man's man; man aggressively pursuing sex and riches; (lit.) carnivore
hungrily; greedily; voraciously; ravenously
ladder; stairs; going to several places in succession (e.g. barhopping)
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
slowly; unhurriedly; without haste; leisurely; at one's leisure
perfunctory; apathetic; makeshift; slapdash; routine; usual
one long straight object (e.g. strand of hair, beam of light, wisp of smoke); a single bloodline; earnest; resolute; (arch.) ordinary; (arch.) common
bachelorhood; spinsterhood; celibacy; living apart from one's family; living alone; person who lives alone
speck; dot; point; only a little; particle; only one
cloudiness; cloudy weather; fog (on a mirror, glasses, etc.); cloud (e.g. in marble); gloom; dejection
even if; (it doesn't matter) whether (A or B or ...); whatever; should
oden; dish of various ingredients, e.g. egg, daikon, potato, chikuwa, konnyaku, etc. stewed in soy-flavored dashi
contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
small; little; tiny; insignificant; humble; modest
opposition; resistance; insubordination; defiance; hostility; rebellion
to support; to maintain; to bring up; to raise; to adopt (a child); to cultivate (a habit, a quality, etc.)
sweets (desserts, candy, etc.)
to save up; to stockpile; to stash away; to hoard; to amass; to salt away
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
investigation; inspection; examination; tune; note; melody
whichever one chooses; either way
end of the fiscal year; end of the school year
uncertain; vague; ambiguous
put; place; leave; do (in preparation)
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
to get dressed up; to treat oneself
modulation (of voice); variation; variety; liveliness (e.g. of writing style)
might as well; sure, why not; why not use this occasion to ...