Exploring the Connection Between Kanji and 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).
Understanding the Nuances of Kanji Writing
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
961 開巻有得 962 外強中乾  963 外強中枯  964 荷衣蕙帯  965 会稽之恥  966 改弦易轍  967 開眼供養  968 改弦更張  969 開源節流  970 開口一番  971 解甲帰田  972 外交辞令  973 蟹行鳥跡  974 外巧内嫉  975 灰心喪意  976 灰心喪気  977 回心転意  978 戒慎之鞀  979 晦人不厭  980 晦人不倦  |
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981 回生起死 982 海誓山盟  983 呉市吹簫  984 虎視耽耽  985 五日一石  986 孤死兎泣  987 五十知命  988 五十展転  989 五十天命  990 五趣生死  991 枯樹生華  992 五盛陰苦  993 五障三従  994 顧小失大  995 後生大事  996 孤掌難鳴  997 九品蓮台  998 愚昧無知  999 愚問愚答  1000 愚問賢答  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1001 開雲見日 1002 外円内方  1003 怪怪奇奇  1004 結縁灌頂  1005 結縁八講  1006 厥角稽首  1007 月下推敲  1008 決河之勢  1009 月下氷人  1010 結跏趺坐  1011 月下老人  1012 血気之勇  1013 譎詭不経  1014 譎詭変幻  1015 血気方剛  1016 絜矩之道  1017 月卿雲客  1018 桀犬吠尭  1019 譎詐百端  1020 齧指痛心  |
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1021 刖趾適履 1022 結縄之政  1023 刖足適履  1024 月旦春秋  1025 月中蟾蜍  1026 竭能尽力  1027 開懐暢飲  1028 蓋瓦級甎  1029 海角天涯  1030 改過作新  1031 改過自新  1032 功徳兼隆  1033 厚徳載福  1034 功徳無量  1035 狡兔三穴  1036 狡兔走狗  1037 孔突墨席  1038 狡兔良狗  1039 項背相望  1040 侯覇臥轍  |
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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.