Understanding Japanese Expressions: The Importance of Context
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 for Kids: Fun Ways to Learn Japanese Characters
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
641 煕来攘往 642 卿相雲客  643 形銷骨立  644 傾心吐胆  645 傾城傾国  646 経世済民  647 景星鳳凰  648 孤影飄零  649 孤影寥寥  650 呉越同舟  651 呉越之富  652 古往今来  653 五陰盛苦  654 五角六張  655 湖海之士  656 黒子之地  657 国士無双  658 刻舟求剣  659 国色天香  660 極大苦悩  |
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661 黒貂之裘 662 黒甜郷裡  663 酷薄無情  664 克伐怨欲  665 黒白分明  666 黒風白雨  667 国歩艱難  668 鵠面鳩形  669 鵠面鳥形  670 極楽往生  671 蛍雪之功  672 撃鐘陳鼎  673 撃壌之歌  674 撃柝一声  675 激濁揚清  676 撃排冒没  677 激憤忼慨  678 屐履之間  679 下化衆生  680 戯作三昧  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
681 化城宝所 682 灰身滅智  683 外題学者  684 外題学問  685 黄旗紫蓋  686 綱紀粛正  687 巧偽拙誠  688 綱紀頽弛  689 剛毅直諒  690 鼓琴之悲  691 鼓琴之友  692 極悪非道  693 黒衣宰相  694 国艶天香  695 告往知来  696 轂撃肩摩  697 刻鵠類鶩  698 告朔餼羊  699 傾側偃仰  700 形息名彰  |
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701 軽率短慮 702 皎皎冽冽  703 巧語花言  704 鴻鵠之志  705 傲骨嶙峋  706 後顧之患  707 高材逸足  708 光彩煥発  709 高材疾足  710 高才疾足  711 高才捷足  712 協力同心  713 魚塩之中  714 魚塩之利  715 虚往実帰  716 去華就実  717 巨眼赭髯  718 拒諫飾非  719 嘘寒問暖  720 挙棋不定  |
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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.