Four-Character Idioms: A Guide for Language Enthusiasts
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 Beauty of Kanji: Aesthetic Principles in Japanese Characters
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1681 傾家蕩産 1682 傾家敗産  1683 傾家破産  1684 桂冠詩人  1685 鯢桓之審  1686 傾危之士  1687 桂宮柏寝  1688 軽裘肥馬  1689 荊棘叢裏  1690 荊棘銅駝  1691 桂玉之艱  1692 桂玉之地  1693 軽挙妄動  1694 控馭之術  1695 抗拒不承  1696 綱挙網疏  1697 敲金戛玉  1698 敲金撃石  1699 高吟放歌  1700 攻苦食啖  |
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1701 攻苦茹淡 1702 康衢通逵  1703 公卿大夫  1704 高下在心  1705 高下相傾  1706 黄絹色糸  1707 剛健質実  1708 高軒寵過  1709 黄絹幼婦  1710 巧言乱徳  1711 巧言令色  1712 槁項黄馘  1713 恍恍惚惚  1714 嗷嗷待哺  1715 膏肓之疾  1716 膏肓之病  1717 紅口白牙  1718 紅口白舌  1719 月鼈雲泥  1720 血脈貫通  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
1721 血脈不断 1722 兼愛交利  1723 涓埃之功  1724 兼愛無私  1725 言易行難  1726 牽衣頓足  1727 藕断糸連  1728 空中楼台  1729 空理空論  1730 空梁月落  1731 倶会一処  1732 久遠実成  1733 苦学力行  1734 苦髪楽爪  1735 区区之意  1736 愚公移山  1737 苦口婆心  1738 愚妻愚息  1739 狗子仏性  1740 苦心孤詣  |
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1741 薬九層倍 1742 九寸五分  1743 苦節十年  1744 九山八海  1745 犬猿之仲  1746 狷介孤高  1747 狷介孤独  1748 狷介固陋  1749 懸崖撒手  1750 言外之意  1751 狷介不羈  1752 狷介不屈  1753 懸崖勒馬  1754 蒹葭玉樹  1755 犬牙交錯  1756 喧嘩囂躁  1757 犬牙差互  1758 懸河瀉水  1759 原価償却  1760 犬牙相錯  1761 犬牙相制  1762 懸河之弁  1763 阮簡曠達  1764 元気溌溂  |
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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.