Four-Character Idioms: Bridging Generations in Japanese Culture
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 Significance of Shūji in Japanese Art and Culture
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
561 万古不磨 562 法統連綿  563 文過飾非  564 入境問俗  565 旁観縮手  566 凡聖一如  567 蒲柳之身  568 百八煩悩  569 煩悶憂苦  570 煩悩劫苦  571 風木之悲  572 疲労困憊  573 伏寇在側  574 暮雨朝雲  575 放胆小心  576 博物洽聞  577 保革伯仲  578 百里之命  579 煩悩菩提  580 反間之計  |
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581 平心易気 582 薄利多売  583 内患外禍  584 風雲月露  585 万全之策  586 釜中之魚  587 八紘為宇  588 微言精義  589 牝牡驪黄  590 望雲之情  591 望梅止渇  592 百折不撓  593 美辞麗句  594 不朽之務  595 蛮触之争  596 不刊之書  597 美事多磨  598 梅林止渇  599 白馬非馬  600 文芸復興  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
601 氷清玉潤 602 墨守成規  603 万杵千砧  604 浮家泛宅  605 南征北伐  606 半覚半醒  607 文質彬彬  608 卑躬屈膝  609 博施済衆  610 馬鹿果報  611 波及効果  612 白面郎君  613 不知案内  614 嚢中之穎  615 年災月厄  616 破鏡重円  617 八宗兼学  618 南轅北轍  619 白首北面  620 不争之徳  |
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621 班田収授 622 泡沫夢幻  623 微妙玄通  624 白衣三公  625 不正不便  626 梅妻鶴子  627 馬良白眉  628 不朽之書  629 南風之薫  630 万乗之国  631 拈華微笑  632 嚢沙背水  633 白荼赤火  634 舞文巧法  635 付加価値  636 粉白黛黒  637 能鷹隠爪  638 文武二道  639 浮雲翳日  640 百二河山  |
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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.