Four-Character Idioms: Bridging Generations in Japanese Culture
Multiple examples of four-character compounds and four-letter words are presented on one page with examples of four-character compounds displayed by various designs focusing on four-character compounds and four-letter words.
We express four-character idioms in various designs, such as Mincho, Gyosho, Gothic, and Sosho styles. These can serve as general examples for lettering in Japanese, posters (handmade signs), and calligraphy assignments like the New Year's calligraphy tradition.
 Comparison Samples of Four-Character Idiom Designs. |
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 Mincho Font |
Textbook Font |
Gyousho Font |
Gothic |
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| Maru Gothic |
Anxiety |
Brush Pen |
Sosho Font |
We have put together a one-page sample of such a design for one four-character phrase.
Kanji characters may be missing if they are old or special characters (Unicode).
The History of Kanji: Evolution and Influence on Japanese
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1 槐安之夢 2 瑰意琦行  3 解衣推食  4 誨淫誨盗  5 誨淫導欲  6 九損一徳  7 口不調法  8 愚痴無知  9 苦中作楽  10 苦爪楽髪  11 狗頭生角  12 苦肉之計  13 苦肉之策  14 苦肉之謀  15 九年之蓄  16 蛍窓雪案  17 勁草之節  18 孤寡不穀  19 胡漢陵轢  20 狐疑逡巡  |
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21 狐疑不決 22 狐裘羔袖  23 呼牛呼馬  24 呉牛喘月  25 狐裘蒙戎  26 五行相剋  27 錦心繍腸  28 金声玉振  29 金石糸竹  30 金石之言  31 孔孟老荘  32 鴻門之会  33 公門桃李  34 衡陽雁断  35 衡陽帰雁  36 高陽酒徒  37 紅葉良媒  38 孔翊絶書  39 行住坐臥  40 翹首企足  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
41 仰首伸眉 42 蓋世之才  43 蓋世之材  44 牽強附合  45 言近旨遠  46 堅苦卓絶  47 懸軍万里  48 元軽白俗  49 剣戟森森  50 喧喧諤諤  51 広宵大暮  52 口尚乳臭  53 向上機縁  54 攻城野戦  55 校書掃塵  56 高所大所  57 苟且偸安  58 仰観俯察  59 驚喜雀躍  60 澆季之世  |
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61 澆季末世 62 驚弓之鳥  63 兢兢業業  64 恐恐謹言  65 皎皎晶晶  66 狂喜乱舞  67 胸襟秀麗  68 恐懼感激  69 恐懼再拝  70 僑軍孤進  71 薑桂之性  72 教外別伝  73 狂言綺語  74 興言利口  75 共業共果  76 恐惶謹言  77 敢作敢当  78 寒山拾得  79 顔子一瓢  80 含沙射人  |
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Significance of Font Design
They play an important role in the communication and visual presentation of information. First, fonts can greatly affect the impression of a message depending on the shape and style of the letters. For example, serif fonts give a traditional, formal impression, while sans-serif fonts create a modern, clean look.
They also contribute to readability and legibility and are designed to aid visual attraction and understanding, especially in advertising and publications. In addition, fonts can serve as part of a brand identity, a means of expressing the personality of a company or product.
About precautions How to write and read four-character phrases |
This homepage introduces how to write various four-character phrases.
Some kanji characters may be garbled because they are not supported in the font-based character design. We have also taken care to ensure that there are no mistakes in the kanji and reading notations, but there may be kanji mistakes or conversion errors.
The introduction of typefaces is only shown as an example as a sample of typeface design. Even similar fonts may differ in minor details. It is not intended to indicate superiority or inferiority of any typeface.
The font and cursive typefaces shown on this page are not necessarily correct, as they often reflect the individuality of the person actually writing them.
When accuracy is required for school assignments, exams, work, etc., please confirm the correctness of the kanji, readings, and meanings of 4-kanji compounds with a Japanese dictionary, idiomatic expression dictionary, or other reliable source. Text and images on this site may not be reproduced or redistributed.