ゼロさいじ

zero-year-old baby

およぶ

to reach; to extend

じゅけんせんそう

"Examination Hell"

こもりうた

lullaby

ちば

Chiba (prefecture or city)

せいご

after birth; after being born

さっこん

nowadays; recently

じゅうせい

situation

おくれてはならぬ

"must not delay"

かいしする

to begin; to start; to commence

たんとう

area of responsibility

じょうそう

morals and aesthetics; taste

みちすがら

"along the way"; "while ..."

となり

next to

砂をかける

to throw sand

つきあう

to associate with; to go along with

つきあっちゃ

same as つきあってはだめ

おめめ

eyes (used by children)

ふしぜん

unnatural

きっと

certainly; I'm sure ...

せいけいする

to have plastic surgery

ふたえまぶた

double-edged eyelids (Westerners)

ひとえまぶた

single-edged eyelids (Asians)

といったちょうし

"in this manner"

いいきかせる

to tell someone to do something; to instruct

いっぽう

meanwhile, on the other hand

まくらもと

beside

さいしゅう

last; final

もくひょう

goal; target; objective

とくしょく

feature; characteristic

よみきかせる

to read aloud to someone

ねつきがいい/わるい

to find it easy/hard to fall asleep; 

to sleep well/badly

そんなあるひ

on one such day; on a day like that

ビリビリ

sound of ripping or rattling

やぶる

to tear; to violate; to smash; to destroy

がっかりする

to be disappointed

ちりぢり

scattered; separated; dispersed

おどろく

to be surprised

しゅっしんこう

alma mater

けいおうだいがく

Keio University

しぼう

wish; desire; ambition

ようちしゃ

Youchisha nursery school affiliate with Keio University

ぜんりょく

all one's power; all one's efforts

ぜんりょくをあげる

to use all one's efforts/strength to ...

ふうふ

husband and wife; married couple

いっち

agreement; match

わなげ

ring-toss game (nursery school test)

わ

ring; circle; loop

にぎる

to grasp; to seize; to mould (sushi)

ひっし

frantic; desparate