Exploring Japanese Compound Words: A Linguistic Adventure
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 and Shūji: A Cultural Exploration of Japanese Writing
| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
401 直言骨鯁 402 刀山剣樹  403 遅疑不定  404 雕虫薄技  405 泰然自若  406 治外法権  407 電光朝露  408 独具匠心  409 天涯孤独  410 天道是非  411 同声異俗  412 長江天塹  413 大処落墨  414 地霊人傑  415 忠孝双全  416 彫題黒歯  417 朝栄夕滅  418 長幼之序  419 同仇敵愾  420 朝朝暮暮  |
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421 知目行足 422 童顔鶴髪  423 重見天日  424 沈痛慷慨  425 東扶西倒  426 党利党略  427 羝羊触藩  428 手練手管  429 天地自然  430 天保九如  431 大義滅親  432 亭亭皎皎  433 天威咫尺  434 天然自然  435 超俗抜俗  436 大惑不解  437 得意忘言  438 多言多敗  439 呑舟之魚  440 堂高三尺  |
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| Character Illustration | four-character idiomatic compounds |
441 大義名分 442 高手小手  443 鉄石之心  444 奴顔婢膝  445 手枷足枷  446 朝活暮死  447 匿影蔵形  448 呑声忍気  449 田父之獲  450 太液芙蓉  451 斗量帚掃  452 定員削減  453 中原之鹿  454 眺望佳絶  455 同音異義  456 滞滞泥泥  457 天罰覿面  458 朝令暮改  459 大器小用  460 斗粟尺布  |
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461 椎心泣血 462 土木形骸  463 甜言蜜語  464 天人五衰  465 知行一致  466 脱俗超凡  467 読書三余  468 追根問底  469 天然美質  470 大賢虎変  471 天高聴卑  472 惰気満満  473 大器晩成  474 得魚忘筌  475 断機之教  476 蟄居屏息  477 刀光剣影  478 鉄硯磨穿  479 樗櫟散木  480 途方途轍  |
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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.