Kanji Writing Styles: Exploring Different Approaches
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 Calligraphy: Techniques for Beautiful Writing
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 401 左文右武 402 自在奔放 403 指差喚呼 404 自作自演 405 自作自受 406 思索生知 407 屍山血河 408 四散五裂 409 時時刻刻 410 四肢五体 411 孜孜忽忽 412 志士仁人 413 獅子身中 414 師資相承 415 事実無根 416 舐痔得車 417 死児之齢 418 獅子搏兎 419 孜孜不倦 420 事事物物 |
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 421 獅子奮迅 422 刺字漫滅 423 耳視目食 424 四捨五入 425 四十不惑 426 自粛自戒 427 耳熟能詳 428 自主独立 429 自受法楽 430 自浄意志 431 四無礙智 432 四無量心 433 自明之理 434 七五三縄 435 四面滃浡 436 四面楚歌 437 鴟目虎吻 438 耳目聡明 439 耳目之欲 440 四門出遊 |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
 441 四門遊観 442 車胤聚蛍 443 社燕秋鴻 444 車魚之嘆 445 舎近求遠 446 舎近図遠 447 舎近謀遠 448 釈眼儒心 449 釈近謀遠 450 釈根灌枝 451 釈根注枝 452 杓子果報 453 杓子定規 454 灼然炳乎 455 鵲巣鳩居 456 鵲巣鳩占 457 新鬼故鬼 458 神機妙算 459 神機妙道 460 人給家足 |
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 461 新旧交代 462 心狂意乱 463 深居簡出 464 晨去暮来 465 人琴之嘆 466 辛苦心労 467 辛苦遭逢 468 身軽言微 469 神経衰弱 470 人傑地霊 471 人権蹂躙 472 身言書判 473 人権侵害 474 心堅石穿 475 仁言利博 476 心慌意乱 477 信口開河 478 人口膾炙 479 神工鬼斧 480 深溝高塁 |
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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.