Kanji Writing Techniques: From Basic to Advanced
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).
Japanese Calligraphy: A Journey Through History and Art
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
561 満目蕭然 562 盧生之夢  563 用舎行蔵  564 有頭没尾  565 李下之冠  566 妙手回春  567 迷惑千万  568 妖怪変化  569 養虎遺患  570 蝿頭細書  571 六韜三略  572 無常迅速  573 落筆点蠅  574 弄璋之喜  575 蘭亭殉葬  576 羸瘠骨立  577 緑葉成陰  578 銘心鏤骨  579 老莱之戯  580 無稽荒唐  |
|
581 磨穿鉄硯 582 満場一致  583 揚威耀武  584 憂来無方  585 鏤氷描水  586 雄風高節  587 夜目遠目  588 無我夢中  589 明眸皓歯  590 乱雑無章  591 李下瓜田  592 無法之法  593 摩訶止観  594 無告之民  595 羊很狼貪  596 冷嘲熱諷  597 問答無用  598 立身出世  599 冷艶清美  600 有朋遠来  |
|
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
601 雷騰雲奔 602 冷眼傍観  603 妖言惑衆  604 六根自在  605 容姿端麗  606 羅雀掘鼠  607 鹿苹之歓  608 無為渾沌  609 淋漓尽致  610 流觴曲水  611 名誉回復  612 老馬知道  613 滅頂之災  614 無知厚顔  615 楊子岐泣  616 満目蕭条  617 盲亀浮木  618 無累之人  619 名声日月  620 迷悟不二  |
|
621 名流夫人 622 臨終正念  623 門巷填集  624 励声一番  625 露往霜来  626 薬石之言  627 無理非道  628 蘭藉桂筵  629 爛腸之食  630 和風細雨  631 野心満満  632 羊質虎皮  633 零絹尺楮  634 蘭薫桂馥  635 蝋蛄之才  636 未雨綢繆  637 名月清樽  638 爛額焦頭  639 網目不疎  640 鳴蝉潔飢  |
|
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.