Four-Character Idioms: A Window into Japanese Language
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 |
321 古色蒼然 322 九夏三伏  323 旧慣墨守  324 牛驥共牢  325 牛鬼蛇神  326 牛驥同皁  327 汲汲忙忙  328 求魚縁木  329 九棘三槐  330 窮極無聊  331 鳩居鵲巣  332 救経引足  333 鳩形鵠面  334 窮形尽相  335 窮形尽態  336 泣血漣如  337 克己復礼  338 刻苦精励  339 刻苦勉励  340 国君含垢  |
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341 滑稽洒脱 342 滑稽之雄  343 刻骨鏤心  344 骨騰肉飛  345 骨肉相軌  346 骨肉相食  347 骨肉相争  348 骨肉相呑  349 骨肉之親  350 開闢草昧  351 下学之功  352 瓜葛相連  353 瓜葛之親  354 夏下冬上  355 過眼雲烟  356 河漢斯言  357 河漢之言  358 花顔柳腰  359 夏癸殷辛  360 和気香風  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
361 餓鬼偏執 362 強食弱肉  363 管窺蠡測  364 歓欣鼓舞  365 顔筋柳骨  366 艱苦奮闘  367 甘言美語  368 甘言蜜語  369 歓言愉色  370 緩絃朗笛  371 頑固一徹  372 眼光炯炯  373 箝口結舌  374 蛾眉皓歯  375 家貧孝子  376 禍福倚伏  377 禍福糾縄  378 顔回箪瓢  379 寒灰復燃  380 感慨無量  |
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381 扞格齟齬 382 干戈倥偬  383 曠世之感  384 曠世之才  385 曠世之度  386 公正平等  387 曠世不羈  388 後世菩提  389 公正無私  390 功成名遂  391 荒瘠斥鹵  392 孔席墨突  393 考績幽明  394 口是心非  395 曠前空後  396 曠前絶後  397 恍然大悟  398 浩然之気  399 公孫布被  400 荒怠暴恣  |
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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.