Kanji for Everyday Use: Practical Applications in 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).
Japanese Calligraphy: Tools and Materials You Need
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 321 盛衰栄枯 322 凄凄切切 323 成性存存 324 清聖濁賢 325 済済多士 326 生々流転 327 清絶高妙 328 井渫不食 329 清絶幽絶 330 清泉濯足 331 青銭万選 332 生存競争 333 青苔黄葉 334 正大之気 335 贅沢三昧 336 清濁併呑 337 清淡寡慾 338 清淡虚無 339 成竹胸中 340 生知安行 |
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 341 精忠無比 342 簇酒歛衣 343 双宿双飛 344 簇酒斂衣 345 宋襄之仁 346 壮士凌雲 347 蚤寝晏起 348 曾参殺人 349 騒人詩客 350 痩身長躯 351 曾参歌声 352 甑塵釜魚 353 騒人墨士 354 痩身矮躯 355 漱石枕流 356 蒼然暮色 357 草創守文 358 滄桑之変 359 蹌蹌踉踉 360 相即不離 |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 361 蚤知之士 362 桑中之歓 363 象箸玉杯 364 桑田滄海 365 桑田碧海 366 操刀傷錦 367 草頭天子 368 蔵頭之雉 369 蔵頭露尾 370 桑土綢繆 371 走馬看花 372 糟粕之妻 373 造反無道 374 造反無理 375 造反有理 376 昨非今是 377 作文三上 378 鑿壁偸光 379 左建外易 380 左顧右視 |
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 381 左顧右眄 382 瑣砕細膩 383 坐視不救 384 左枝右史 385 砂上楼閣 386 坐食逸飽 387 坐薪懸胆 388 左戚右賢 389 蹉跎歳月 390 蹉跎白髪 391 沙中之語 392 沙中之謀 393 察言観色 394 殺妻求将 395 剳青淋漓 396 雑然紛然 397 殺伐激越 398 左程右準 399 坐破寒氈 400 左武右文 |
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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.