Shūji for All Ages: Learning Calligraphy Together
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 Traditional and Contemporary Techniques
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
241 大貉小貉 242 治乱興亡  243 中臂鼠肝  244 倒行逆施  245 頓首再拝  246 単刀趣入  247 朝耕暮耘  248 低頭傾首  249 大快人心  250 大巧若拙  251 彫肝琢腎  252 堂塔伽藍  253 曇華一現  254 瞠目結舌  255 投桃報李  256 読書三到  257 着手小局  258 豚魚之信  259 匿跡潜形  260 訥言実行  |
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261 豚蹄一酒 262 長者万灯  263 擲果満車  264 頂門一鍼  265 佇立瞑目  266 天壌懸隔  267 男耕女織  268 適怨清和  269 天高気清  270 旦暮周密  271 天下至大  272 跿跔科頭  273 韜光養晦  274 佇思停機  275 陶朱猗頓  276 大腹便便  277 懲前毖後  278 鉄石心腸  279 倒載干戈  280 多士済済  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
281 多略善断 282 独立不撓  283 電光石火  284 太倉稊米  285 遅疑不決  286 朝四暮三  287 天地渾沌  288 天開地辟  289 中央集権  290 天地万物  291 剃頭辮髪  292 同工異曲  293 鼎新革故  294 談虎色変  295 天衣無縫  296 朝成夕毀  297 棟梁之材  298 突怒偃蹇  299 多種多様  300 灯紅酒緑  |
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301 天経地義 302 天魔波旬  303 糶糴斂散  304 長袖善舞  305 道之以徳  306 桃傷李仆  307 朝露夕電  308 徳量寛大  309 諂上欺下  310 党錮之禍  311 冬月赤足  312 桃花癸水  313 断腸之思  314 蠹居棊処  315 当頭一棒  316 朝秦暮楚  317 独立独住  318 短褐不完  319 体元居正  320 泥牛入海  |
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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.