Kanji Writing Styles: Exploring Traditional and Contemporary Techniques
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).
The Influence of Calligraphy on Japanese Language and Literature
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
161 尾生之信 162 馬鹿丁寧  163 風雨凄凄  164 莫逆之契  165 卑陋頑固  166 飄忽震蕩  167 柏舟之誓  168 喃喃喋喋  169 吠形吠声  170 悲壮淋漓  171 付会穿鑿  172 片言隻語  173 二河白道  174 不立文字  175 繁絃急管  176 物是人非  177 風旛之論  178 抱関撃柝  179 非常之士  180 奔車朽索  |
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181 包蔵禍心 182 風清弊絶  183 粉白墨黒  184 変態百出  185 庖丁解牛  186 巫山之雨  187 叛服無常  188 南郭濫吹  189 馬牛襟裾  190 薄物細故  191 不壊金剛  192 杯中蛇影  193 風流雲散  194 飛揚跋扈  195 変幻自在  196 鞭辟近裏  197 抜群出類  198 皮肉之見  199 本地垂跡  200 氷散瓦解  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
201 風霜高潔 202 平談俗話  203 比翼双飛  204 封豕長蛇  205 斑衣之戯  206 風樹之悲  207 抜苦与楽  208 嚢中之類  209 覆水不返  210 富貴在天  211 平明之治  212 不敗之地  213 風雨同舟  214 不死不朽  215 南蛮鴃舌  216 不抜之志  217 不言実行  218 富貴寿考  219 風流佳事  220 百世不磨  |
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221 貧賤之交 222 万物逆旅  223 反躬自省  224 百世不易  225 博覧強識  226 風塵表物  227 内疎外親  228 秉燭夜遊  229 幕天席地  230 浮花浪蘂  231 百挙百全  232 平地風濤  233 方底円蓋  234 如意宝珠  235 百様依順  236 百依百随  237 白兔赤烏  238 不屈不撓  239 忘性脳子  240 杯酒解怨  |
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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.