Four-Character Idioms: Expressions That Capture the Heart
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. |
|||
| |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Mincho Font |
Textbook Font |
Gyousho Font |
Gothic |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 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 Kanji: The Key to Japanese Calligraphy
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
401 豪放磊落 402 濠濮間想  403 槁木死灰  404 高邁闊達  405 毫末遺漏  406 毫末之利  407 傲慢不羈  408 傲慢不遜  409 傲慢無礼  410 傲慢磊落  411 口蜜腹剣  412 光明真言  413 光明遍照  414 功名利禄  415 黄霧四塞  416 孔明臥竜  417 含牙戴角  418 寒花晩節  419 干戈不息  420 緩歌慢舞  |
|
421 侃侃諤諤 422 観感興起  423 寒巌枯木  424 乾乾浄浄  425 関関雎鳩  426 顔厚忸怩  427 眼光紙背  428 眼高手低  429 寛洪大量  430 巻甲韜旗  431 寒江独釣  432 含垢忍辱  433 含垢忍恥  434 含垢納汚  435 顔厚無慚  436 紈袴子弟  437 換骨羽化  438 換骨奪胎  439 還顧之憂  440 還魂起死  |
|
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
441 驚心動魄 442 仰人鼻息  443 協心戮力  444 澆世季世  445 義理一遍  446 桐壷源氏  447 機略縦横  448 棄糧沈船  449 耆老久次  450 勤倹尚武  451 近所合壁  452 琴心剣胆  453 錦心繍口  454 謹慎重厚  455 鶏群孤鶴  456 鷄群一鶴  457 醯鶏甕裡  458 鶏犬不寧  459 蝸牛角上  460 鶴汀鳧渚  |
|
461 廓然大悟 462 廓然無聖  463 鶴髪童顔  464 格物致知  465 鶴鳴九皐  466 鶴鳴之士  467 鶴鳴之歎  468 楽羊啜子  469 鶴翼之囲  470 鶴翼之陣  471 鶴立企佇  472 鶴唳風声  473 駕軽就熟  474 瓦鶏陶犬  475 過剰防衛  476 花燭洞房  477 華燭之式  478 華燭之典  479 華胥之国  480 華胥之夢  |
|
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.