The Influence of Calligraphy on Japanese Language and Literature
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).
Exploring the World of Japanese Calligraphy: A Cultural Journey
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
721 倍称之息 722 眉目温厚  723 二六時中  724 肉袒牽羊  725 腹心之臣  726 負薪汲水  727 燃犀之見  728 美妙巧緻  729 巫山雲雨  730 表裏一体  731 蜚流之言  732 忘家忘私  733 本覚真如  734 兵強馬壮  735 人我無相  736 貧賎憂戚  737 泛駕之馬  738 物色比類  739 南郭濫竽  740 不時之需  |
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741 牝鶏司晨 742 不平煩悶  743 百川学海  744 兵車之属  745 盗人上戸  746 二者択一  747 売剣買牛  748 文武一途  749 文事武備  750 兵荒馬乱  751 文従字順  752 暴飲暴食  753 莫逆之交  754 八面玲瓏  755 悲喜交交  756 粉粧玉琢  757 蒲鞭示辱  758 標新領異  759 濮上之音  760 標新立異  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
761 保泰持盈 762 南柯之悔  763 物換星移  764 万世不易  765 物来順応  766 二人三脚  767 内憂外患  768 背水之陣  769 熱烈峻厳  770 法性自爾  771 敗軍之将  772 博識多才  773 内政干渉  774 氷姿玉骨  775 如是我聞  776 念念生滅  777 父子相伝  778 辺幅修飾  779 杯水車薪  780 平腹鱗甲  |
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781 発蒙振落 782 釜底遊魚  783 報怨以徳  784 蜉蝣一期  785 文武兼備  786 偏袒右肩  787 北轅適楚  788 飽経風霜  789 入境問禁  790 万世不刊  791 能者多労  792 杯弓蛇影  793 報恩謝徳  794 風樹之感  795 飛花落葉  796 比目連枝  797 忘憂之物  798 日省月課  799 万乗之主  800 摽末之功  |
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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.