Yojijukugo (四字熟語) is a Japanese idiom made of exactly four kanji characters. The expression comes from classical Chinese and Japanese literary traditions and is used to carry dense meaning in short form.

四字熟語 Yojijukugo

Yojijukugo: Four-Kanji Japanese Idiom Collection

Q: How many yojijukugo are there?

Reference sources list more than 6,600 yojijukugo. Kanji.Jepang.org currently provides 1,749 yojijukugo entries with meaning and reading support, and coverage continues to grow.

Q: Are yojijukugo used in daily Japanese?

Yes. Many yojijukugo appear in daily conversation, media, speeches, and formal writing in Japan. Well-known examples include 一期一会 and 以心伝心.

Q: How should I study yojijukugo?

Start from frequently used idioms and learn each composing kanji step by step. On Kanji.Jepang.org, each yojijukugo entry includes meaning, reading, and links to the forming kanji.

Yojijukugo (四字熟語) are Japanese idioms made of exactly four kanji characters. Each idiom carries dense meaning inherited from classical Chinese and Japanese literary traditions. Explore our yojijukugo collection from common expressions to rarer forms.

What Is Yojijukugo?

Yojijukugo (四字熟語) literally means "four-character idiom". The term refers to fixed Japanese expressions made of exactly four kanji. Many entries come from classical Chinese literature (漢文), older Japanese sayings, and Buddhist texts.

Unlike ordinary vocabulary, yojijukugo compresses complex ideas, moral values, or situational nuance into four characters. Internal structures vary: some use two pairs (2+2), some use one-plus-three (1+3), and some are four independent kanji working as one expression.

Yojijukugo appears in daily Japanese usage: formal speeches, headlines, lyrics, academic writing, New Year cards, and casual conversation. Mastering yojijukugo signals deeper language command and often matters in Kanken (漢字検定) study.

More Popular Examples

一石二鳥いっせきにちょう killing two birds with one stone 四面楚歌しめんそか being surrounded by enemies on all sides 一刀両断いっとうりょうだん cutting in two with a single stroke 七転八起しちてんはっき the vicissitudes of life 弱肉強食じゃくにくきょうしょく survival of the fittest 半信半疑はんしんはんぎ half in doubt 百発百中ひゃっぱつひゃくちゅう always hitting the bull's-eye 自業自得じごうじとく paying for one's mistakes

100 Yojijukugo Today

10 April 2026

100 selected yojijukugo from 1.749 entries, refreshed daily. Open a card to see meaning, reading, and usage.

疾風怒涛しっぷうどとう storm and stress 三日天下みっかでんか short-lived rule 善隣友好ぜんりんゆうこう neighbourly friendship 換骨奪胎かんこつだったい adaptation (of a poem, novel, etc.) 天長地久てんちょうちきゅう coeval with heaven and earth 俗談平話ぞくだんへいわ conversation on worldly affairs 無学文盲むがくもんもう ignorant and illiterate 粉骨砕身ふんこつさいしん making one's best exertions 春日遅々しゅんじつちち long and balmy (of a spring day) 融通無碍ゆうずうむげ free, unfettered and flexible 門前成市もんぜんせいし having a constant stream of visitors 神経衰弱しんけいすいじゃく neurasthenia 残念無念ざんねんむねん deep regret 甘言蜜語かんげんみつご honeyed words 七転八起しちてんはっき the vicissitudes of life 開眼供養かいげんくよう ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul) 津津浦浦つづうらうら all over the country 人為淘汰じんいとうた artificial selection 兵隊勘定へいたいかんじょう Dutch treat 古今東西ここんとうざい all times and places 而今而後じこんじご in the future 格物致知かくぶつちち gaining a perfect knowledge of natural laws 詩歌管弦しいかかんげん Chinese and Japanese poetry and instrumental music 五穀豊穣ごこくほうじょう huge harvest (of the five grains) 不言実行ふげんじっこう action before words 偶像崇拝ぐうぞうすうはい idolatry 胆大心小たんだいしんしょう being bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous 燃犀の明ねんさいのめい extraordinary perceptiveness 有相無相うぞうむぞう all things in nature 手練手管てれんてくだ wiles 一視同人いっしどうじん loving every human being with impartiality 舌先三寸したさきさんずん eloquence or flattery designed to deceive 三拝九拝さんぱいきゅうはい kowtowing 鎧袖一触がいしゅういっしょく (beating someone) hands down 悲憤慷慨ひふんこうがい indignant lamentation over the evils of the times 南船北馬なんせんほくば constant travelling 前程万里ぜんていばんり a bright (rosy) future awaiting one 片利共生へんりきょうせい commensalism 貴顕紳士きけんしんし gentlemen of (high) eminence 上昇気流じょうしょうきりゅう ascending air current 印象批評いんしょうひひょう impressionistic criticism 台風一過たいふういっか clear weather after a typhoon has passed 支離滅裂しりめつれつ incoherent 励声一番れいせいいちばん giving cries of encouragement at a critical moment 阿諛迎合あゆげいごう ingratiation 経国済民けいこくさいみん governing a nation and providing relief to people 自己撞着じこどうちゃく self-contradiction 二股膏薬ふたまたごうやく double-dealer 大廈高楼たいかこうろう large building and lofty tower 懸腕直筆けんわんちょくひつ calligraphy technique of holding the brush perpendicularly, lower arm raised, and elbow held away from the body 紅毛碧眼こうもうへきがん red-haired and blue-eyed (person) 偶像破壊ぐうぞうはかい iconoclasm 諸子百家しょしひゃっか Hundred Schools of Thought (during China's Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period) 二者選一にしゃせんいつ choosing between two things 盗人根性ぬすっとこんじょう thievish nature (character) 忠言逆耳ちゅうげんぎゃくじ good advice is harsh to the ears 前代未聞ぜんだいみもん unheard-of 文化遺産ぶんかいさん cultural heritage 有職故実ゆうそくこじつ studies in usages and practices of the ancient court and military households 異類異形いるいいぎょう strange-looking creatures 多種多様たしゅたよう a great variety of 優柔不断ゆうじゅうふだん indecisive 意気沮喪いきそそう depressed in spirits 俗臭紛々ぞくしゅうふんぷん vulgar 面向不背めんこうふはい flawless 強硬手段きょうこうしゅだん tough measure 伴食大臣ばんしょくだいじん nominal (figurehead) minister 一粒万倍いちりゅうまんばい a single seed can eventually produce a great harvest 他言無用たごんむよう not a word to anyone 歌舞音曲かぶおんぎょく singing, dancing and music 落花流水らっかりゅうすい mutual love 重厚長大じゅうこうちょうだい heavy, thick, long, and big (products, esp. industrial) 本末顚倒ほんまつてんとう putting the cart before the horse 長身痩躯ちょうしんそうく tall and lean figure 清廉潔白せいれんけっぱく spotless integrity 温厚篤実おんこうとくじつ having a gentle and sincere personality 三者三様さんしゃさんよう each of the three being different from the other two 焦心苦慮しょうしんくりょ worrying oneself (about) 三世十方さんぜじっぽう limitless time and space 天衣無縫てんいむほう perfect beauty with no trace of artifice 一炊の夢いっすいのゆめ empty dream 千客万来せんかくばんらい flood of customers 傲岸不遜ごうがんふそん arrogance 威風堂々いふうどうどう Pomp and Circumstance (series of marches by Elgar) 一殺多生いっさつたしょう it is justifiable to kill one person to save the lives of many 公平無私こうへいむし impartiality 軽妙洒脱けいみょうしゃだつ witty 即身成仏そくしんじょうぶつ attainment of Buddhahood during life 禍福得喪かふくとくそう calamity, good fortune, success and failure 伏竜鳳雛ふくりょうほうすう gifted young person who shows much promise 上等手段じょうとうしゅだん one's habitual practice 自作自演じさくじえん doing everything by oneself (from preparation to execution) 天災地変てんさいちへん natural disaster 金口木舌きんこうぼくぜつ (public) opinion leader 長汀曲浦ちょうていきょくほ long stretch of winding beach 笑止千万しょうしせんばん highly ridiculous 屋上架屋おくじょうかおく gilding the lily 延頸挙踵えんけいきょしょう longing for someone or something 古色蒼然こしょくそうぜん antique-looking 好評嘖々こうひょうさくさく enjoying great popularity

This list updates daily. To find a specific yojijukugo, use the search field at the top of this page.

Common Questions About Yojijukugo

What is yojijukugo?

Yojijukugo (四字熟語) is a Japanese idiom made of exactly four kanji characters. The term comes from classical Chinese and Japanese literary tradition and is used to express dense meaning in compact form.

How many yojijukugo are there?

Reference sources list more than 20,000 yojijukugo. Kanji.Jepang.org currently provides 1.749 yojijukugo entries with meaning and reading support, and we keep expanding toward 6.600+ coverage.

Is yojijukugo used in daily Japanese?

Yes. Many yojijukugo are used in daily conversation, media, speeches, and formal writing in Japan. Common examples include 一期一会, 以心伝心, and 一石二鳥.

How should I study yojijukugo?

Start from frequently used yojijukugo and learn the composing kanji one by one. On Kanji.Jepang.org, each yojijukugo entry includes meaning, reading, and links to the forming kanji.

What is the difference between yojijukugo and kotowaza?

Yojijukugo always uses exactly four kanji as a fixed expression. Kotowaza (ことわざ) is a proverb that can have variable length and is often longer. Some yojijukugo can also function as kotowaza, but they are different categories.