The Significance of Kanji in Japanese Calligraphy
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 Writing Styles: Exploring Different Aesthetics
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 1441 四荒八極 1442 揣合逢迎 1443 至高無上 1444 自己欺瞞 1445 自己顕示 1446 刺股懸頭 1447 刺股懸梁 1448 熟思黙想 1449 縮手縮脚 1450 菽水之歓 1451 縮地補天 1452 熟読玩味 1453 夙夜夢寤 1454 夙夜夢寐 1455 熟慮断行 1456 輸攻墨守 1457 寿山福海 1458 酒食徴逐 1459 取捨選択 1460 趣舎万殊 |
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 1461 珠襦玉匣 1462 種種雑多 1463 種種様様 1464 守株待兎 1465 衆生済度 1466 衆生世間 1467 珠生老蚌 1468 酒色財気 1469 主辱臣死 1470 首施両端 1471 朱脣榴歯 1472 酒酔酒解 1473 衆善奉行 1474 取争之術 1475 饒舌多弁 1476 承先啓後 1477 承前啓後 1478 少壮気鋭 1479 少壮有為 1480 消息盈虚 |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 1481 捷足先得 1482 躡足附耳 1483 称体裁衣 1484 掌中之珠 1485 笑中之刀 1486 笑中有刀 1487 小懲大誡 1488 鐘鼎玉帛 1489 傷天害理 1490 常套手段 1491 升堂入室 1492 浄土往生 1493 松柏之志 1494 松柏之姿 1495 松柏之質 1496 松柏之寿 1497 松柏之操 1498 賞罰之柄 1499 笑比河清 1500 攘臂疾言 |
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 1501 常備不懈 1502 照猫画虎 1503 絶後再甦 1504 絶言絶慮 1505 説三道四 1506 切歯咬牙 1507 切歯痛心 1508 切歯痛憤 1509 截趾適履 1510 切歯腐心 1511 摂取不捨 1512 折衝禦侮 1513 殺生禁断 1514 折衝千里 1515 絶世独立 1516 切切偲偲 1517 絶体絶命 1518 舌端月旦 1519 截断衆流 1520 雪中送炭 |
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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.