Kanji Writing Techniques: From Basic to Advanced Styles
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 Learning Resources: Books and Tools for Success
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1201 空空漠漠 1202 空花乱墜  1203 空谷跫然  1204 空谷之音  1205 空谷跫音  1206 空山一路  1207 空手還郷  1208 苦雨凄風  1209 空前絶後  1210 偶像崇拝  1211 夏雲奇峰  1212 瓦解土崩  1213 柯会之盟  1214 瓦解氷消  1215 瓦解氷泮  1216 花街柳巷  1217 下学上達  1218 蝸角之争  1219 曲水流觴  1220 玉石在間  |
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1221 玉石雑糅 1222 玉石同架  1223 玉石同匱  1224 玉石同砕  1225 玉石同沈  1226 曲折浮沈  1227 玉蟾金兔  1228 局促不安  1229 曲直分明  1230 玉兔銀蟾  1231 曲突徙薪  1232 玉杯象箸  1233 曲筆舞文  1234 曲眉豊頬  1235 玉葉金枝  1236 居敬窮理  1237 虚言巧語  1238 居高思危  1239 御溝紅葉  1240 挙国一致  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1241 挙止迂拙 1242 挙止進退  1243 挙止動作  1244 虚弱体質  1245 魚菽之祭  1246 許劭月旦  1247 許劭品題  1248 虚心坦懐  1249 冠履雑所  1250 冠履倒易  1251 冠履倒置  1252 韓柳欧蘇  1253 喬遷之喜  1254 教相判釈  1255 翹足引領  1256 驚地動天  1257 胸中甲兵  1258 奸智術策  1259 管中窺天  1260 管中窺豹  |
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1261 管仲随馬 1262 眼中之釘  1263 眼中之刺  1264 眼中之丁  1265 眼中之人  1266 眼中無人  1267 歓天喜地  1268 撼天動地  1269 観天望気  1270 感動振奮  1271 甘棠之愛  1272 甘棠遺愛  1273 甘棠之恵  1274 患得患失  1275 環堵蕭然  1276 環堵之室  1277 頑鈍無恥  1278 艱難苦労  1279 艱難辛苦  1280 胸中鱗甲  |
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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.