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).
Kanji Writing Techniques: From Basic to Advanced
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
801 橘中之仙 802 儀狄之酒  803 寄田仰穀  804 喜怒哀楽  805 詭道険語  806 儀同三司  807 機到筆随  808 欺軟怕硬  809 肌肉玉雪  810 耆婆扁鵲  811 帰馬放牛  812 杞人之憂  813 驥服塩車  814 鬼斧神工  815 季布一諾  816 詭変多端  817 箕濮之情  818 帰命稽首  819 帰命頂礼  820 鬼面嚇人  |
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821 鬼面仏心 822 亀毛蛇足  823 亀毛兎角  824 記問之学  825 花天月地  826 瓜田李下  827 寡頭政治  828 臥榻之側  829 家徒四壁  830 家徒壁立  831 河図洛書  832 家内狼藉  833 鉄梃大尽  834 金屋阿嬌  835 金屋貯嬌  836 金塊珠礫  837 槿花一日  838 槿花一朝  839 金科玉条  840 金科玉律  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
841 巾幗之贈 842 琴歌酒賦  843 銀河倒瀉  844 金亀換酒  845 琴棋詩酒  846 欣喜雀躍  847 緊急措置  848 緊急防衛  849 欣喜踊躍  850 金玉之言  851 金玉満堂  852 金玉良言  853 斤斤計較  854 謹厳温厚  855 謹厳実直  856 謹厳重厚  857 勤倹小心  858 乾坤一擲  859 堅塞固塁  860 厳塞要徼  |
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861 言三語四 862 剣山刀樹  863 妍姿艶質  864 兼弱攻昧  865 懸車告老  866 懸車致仕  867 懸車之年  868 減収減益  869 塊然独処  870 階前万里  871 海内殷富  872 海内冠冕  873 海内奇士  874 海内紛擾  875 海内無双  876 外沢中乾  877 咳唾成珠  878 街談巷議  879 街談巷語  880 街談巷説  |
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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.