第389課: Idioms IV: 四字熟語
四字熟語 literally means “four character compound word”. Technically, the term refers to all words made up of four characters. In a narrow-sense, the word refers to four character set expressions. That is what we will be discussing. For academic punctuality, the term “四字成語” is preferred because it means “four character set phrase”. However, most people refer to them as “四字熟語”. Due to their origin, most can also be called “四字漢語”.
What is an Idiom?
Japanese people will easily tell you that the following is a set phrase.
弁慶の泣き所
弁慶 means “strong man” and 泣き所 means “place where one cries”. Together, the phrase refers to the shin. If you are kicked in the shin, even if you are a strong man, you are going to cry.
Idioms are rated by “idiomaticity”–how idiomatic something is. Every Japanese person knows 四面楚歌 (to be surrounded by enemies on all four sides) and 波瀾万丈 (stormy and full of drama). Phrases like 大学教育 (college education) are non-idiomatic. The idiomatic ones, though, are important to entrance exams in Japan, and they’re often used in showing off to other people.
Again, the term normally refers to such words that deviate from a literal direct translation. Some compounds create a problem. For example, many idioms in Japanese have been introduced through direct translation.
| A 四字熟語 | 教室崩壊 | きょうしつほうかい | Destruction of the classroom |
| A Generic Idiom | 氷山の一角 | ひょうざんのいっかく | Tip of the iceberg |
| Idiom of the Body | 鼻の差で | はなのさで | By a nose |
To the English speaker, these expressions are no doubt idiomatic. As for the typical 四字熟語, they are not ‘deviant’ from the original definition. Most 四字熟語 come from Buddhist texts/Chinese literature.
It is to note that non-idiomatic (four character) expressions can over time obtain an idiomatic usage. 一時停止, which means “suspension”, can now describe a guy stopping traffic because he won’t go.
The 6 Sources
- From modern society– 官官接待”bureaucrats entertaining bureaucrats using public funds”.
- Made in Japan, many are reading with 訓読み–手練手管（てれんてくだ） “art of coaxing”.
- From Chinese literature–臥薪嘗胆（がしんしょうたん） “enduring unspeakable hardships for the sake of vengeance”.
- Buddhist terminology–四苦八苦 “the four and eight kinds of suffering”
- The insertion of 之 which has been used in neo-classical and Chinese-style Japanese literature in place of の. These phrases are arguably not 四字熟語
- From 訓読, the process of reading 漢文. So, they’re Classical Japanese sentences fit to Chinese syntax and pronunciation. These phrases are often considered anachronistic. As such, they tend to not be in dictionaries.
At times, 四字熟語 originating from Chinese have deviated in meaning. 七転八倒（しちてんばっとう） means “writhing in agony” in Japanese and “very confused” in Chinese. There is also obvious significant phonetic deviation.
Analysis of 64 四字熟語
| You aren’t required to memorize them all, but they are great practice. There isn’t a particular ordering of the idioms. 一刀両断（いっとうりょうだん） One-sword-both (sides)-cut into 1. To cut in two with a single blow 2. To take drastic measures色即是空（しきそくぜくう） Rupa-in other words-there is-vanity 1. All is vanity Note: 色 (rupa) means all things have shape手前味噌（てまえみそ） My-miso 1. Self-flattery Note: 手前 is used with its humble first person pronoun definition.付和雷同 ふわらいどう Attach-peace-thunder-same 1. To follow people blindly.暖衣飽食（だんいほうしょく） Warm-clothes-tired of-eating 1. Well-fed and well-dressed 2. Being blessed materially Note: May also be written as 煖衣飽食.一期一会（いちごいちえ） One-time-one-meet 1. Once in a lifetime (encounter) Note: Of Japanese in origin美人薄命（びじんはくめい） Beauty-person-thin-life 1. A beautiful woman is destined to die young 2. Beauty and fortune seldom go together 3. The beautiful die young月下氷人（げっかひょうじん） Moon-under-ice-person 1. Matchmaker; go-between唯我独尊（ゆいがどくそん） Only-self-alone-honor 1. Self-righteousness 2. Holy am I alone二股膏薬（ふたまたごうやく） Two-sides-salve 1. Double-dealer 2. Moving back and forth between two sides in a conflict Also read as ふたまこうやく, and it is Japanese in origin.一石二鳥（いっせきにちょう） One-stone-two-birds 1. Killing two birds with one stone Note: Originally an English expression.呉越同舟（ごえつどうしゅう） Go-Etsu-same-boat 1. Bitter enemies in the same boat by fate Note: From a Chinese story where Go and Etsu were old rivals that toppled the vessel when they had to be together, which in turn made them have to save each other.順風満帆（じゅんぷうまんぱん） Gentle-wind-full-sails 1. Smooth sailing; everything going smoothly悪因悪果（あくいんあっか） Evil-cause-evil-result 1. You reap what you sow Note: Originally from Buddhist scriptures.弱肉強食（じゃくにくきょうしょく） Weak-meat-strong-eat 1. Survival of the fittest 2. Laws of the Jungle寂滅為楽（じゃくめついらく） Loneliness-destroy-to do-happiness 1. Freedom from one’s desires 2. Nirvana is true bliss Note: Originally from Buddhist scriptures色恋沙汰（いろこいざた） Sensual-love-affair 1. Love affair 2. Romantic entanglement酔生夢死（すいせいむし） Drunken-life-dream-death 1. Idling one’s life away 2. Dreaming away one’s life accomplishes nothing significant十人十色（じゅうにんといろ） Ten-people-ten-colors 1. To each his own 2. So many people, so many minds 3. Everyone has his own interests and ideas朝三暮四（ちょうさんぼし） Morning-three-evening-four 1. Being preoccupied with immediate superficial differences without realizing that there is no difference in substance Note: From a story where a monkey feeder would feed a monkey three horse chestnuts in the morning and four in the evening and switched it around because he got mad.異体同心 いたいどうしん Different-body-different-mind 1. Being of one mind; acting in one accord/perfect harmony会者定離 えしゃじょうり Meeting-person-always-separates 1. Those who meet must part Note: Originated from Buddhist scriptures生者必滅 しょうじゃひつめつ Living-people-certainly-die 1. All living things must die Note: Originated from Buddhist scriptures我田引水 がでんいんすい Own-field-draw-water 1. Self-seeking 2. Feathering one’s own nest 3. Drawing water for one’s own field Originated from the rich agrarian society of old China and Japan.五里夢中 ごりむちゅう Five-ri (2.44 miles)-fog-inside 1. Totally at a loss; in a fog古色蒼然 こしょくそうぜん Old-color-blue-is 1. Antique-looking 2. With the patina of age羊頭狗肉 ようとうくにく Sheep-head-dog-meat 1. Crying wine and selling vinegar; using a better name to sell inferior goods 2. Extravagant advertisement | 黒風白雨（こくふうはくう） Black-wind-white-rain 1. Sudden rain shower in a dust storm高山流水（こうざんりゅうすい） Tall-mountain-running-water 1. Beauty of nature 2. Beautifully played music 3. Tall mountains and rushing water花鳥風月 かちょうふうげつ Flower-bird-wind-moon 1. The beauties of nature三々五々（さんさんごご） Three-three-five-five 1. In small groups一望千里（いちぼうせんり） One-hope-thousand-ri 1. Sweeping expanse五風十雨（ごふうじゅうう） Five-wind-ten-rain 1. Halcyon weather/times九死一生（きゅうしいっしょう） Nine-deaths-one-life 1. Narrow escape from death五十知命（ごじゅうちめい） Fifty-wisdom-life 1. At 50 one comes to know the will of Heaven Note: This is a Confucius saying.朝雲暮雨（ちょううんぼう） Morning-clouds-evening-rain Sexual liaison 三千世界（さんぜんせかい） Three-thousand-worlds 1. The whole universe一文半銭（いちもんはんせん） One-mon-half-sen 1. Meager sum of money一文不通（いちもんふつう） One-sentence-block Totally illiterate一陽来復（いちようらいふく） One-sun-return The return of spring一利一害（いちりいちがい） One-profit-one gain 1. Advantage and its disadvantage一挙一動（いっきょいちどう） One-action-one-move 1. One’s every move一死報国（いっしほうこく） One-death-patriotism 1. Dying for one’s country浅学非才（せんがくひさい） Shallow-learning-no-ability 1. Lack of learning and ability円満具足（えんまんぐそく） Satisfactory-completeness 1. Complete, tranquil, and in harmony再三再四（さいさんさいし） Re-three-re-four 1. Repeatedly人心一新（じんしんいっしん） Person-heart-one-new 1. Complete change in public sentiment一心同体（いっしんどうたい） One-heart-same-body 1. One in body and soul一路平安（いちろへいあん） One-road-security Bon voyage一路順風（いちろじゅんぷう） One-road-gentle-wind 1. Everything going well心機一転（しんきいってん） Heart-move-turn Change in attitude意気投合（いきとうごう） Spirit-congeniality 1. Find a kindred spirit才子多病（さいしたびょう） Genius-child-many-diseases 1. Talented people tend to be delicate 2. Men of genius tend to be of delicate health九牛一毛（きゅうぎゅういちもう） Nine-cows-one-hair 1. A drop in the ocean一衣帯水（いちいたいすい） One-clothes-obi-water 1. Being separated by a narrow stretch of water清風明月（せいふうめいげつ） Pure-wind-bright-moon 1. Refreshing breeze and the bright moon純一無雑（じゅんいちむざつ） Pure-one-no-disarray 1. Pure in heart下意上達（かいじょうたつ） Lower idea-advance 1. Conveyance of lower class opinions to the powers that be急転直下（きゅうてんちょっか） Sudden-change-directly-under 1. Suddenly and precipitately悠々自適（ゆうゆうじてき） Leisure-leisure-self-capable 1. Otium cum dignitate 2. Living a life of leisure and dignity海千山千（うみせんやません） Ocean-thousand-mountain-thousand 1. A sly old dog of much worldly wisdom Note: Japanese in origin乾坤一擲（けんこんいってき） Universe-one-off away 1. Play for all or nothing厚顔無恥（こうがんむち） Heavy-face-no-shame 1. Brazen and unscrupulous; shameless傍目八目 おかめはちもく Side-eye-eight-eyes 1. A bystander’s vantage point 2. Onlookers of a game see more than the actual players do |
Additional 四字熟語
| 一分一厘 | いちぶいちりん | Not even a bit |
| 一網打尽 | いちもうだじん | Wholesale arrest |
| 暗雲低迷 | あんうんていめい | Dark clouds hanging low |
| 曖昧模糊 | あいまいもこ | Ambiguous |
| 悪戦苦闘 | あくせんくとう | Hard struggle |
| 一瞬絶句 | いっしゅんぜっく | Rendered speechless for a moment |
| 一生懸命 | いっしょうけんめい | With all one’s might |
| 一心不乱 | いっしんふらん | With heart and soul |
| 一体全体 | いったいぜんたい | What on earth? |
| 迂闊千万 | うかつせんばん | Very careless |
| 宇宙開闢 | うちゅうかいびゃく | Since the dawn of time |
| 容貌端正 | ようぼうたんせい | To have handsome and clean-cut features |
| 有史以来 | ゆうしいらい | Since the dawn of history |
| 和洋折衷 | わようせっちゅう | A blending of Japanese and Western styles |
| 和光同塵 | わこうどうじん | Wise men softening their light while with the mundane world |
| 老少不定 | ろうしょうふじょう | Death comes to old and young alike |
| 劣弱意識 | れつじゃくいしき | Inferior complex |
| 縷々綿々 | るるめんめん | To go on and on in tedious detail |
| 流転生死 | るてんしょうじ | The cycle of transmigration |
| 風声鶴唳 | ふうせいかくれい | To be frightened by the slightest noise |
| 風林火山 | ふうりんかざん | Swift as wind, quiet as forest, fierce as fire, and immovable as mountains |
| 武運長久 | ぶうんちょうきゅう | Continued luck in the fortunes of war |
| 複雑多岐 | ふくざつたき | Labyrinthine |
| 表裏一体 | ひょうりいったい | The two sides of the same coin |
| 比翼連理 | ひよくれんり | Perfect conjugal harmony between husband and wife |
| 百人百様 | ひゃくにんひゃくよう | So many men, so many ways |
| 眉目秀麗 | びもくしゅうれい | Having a handsome face |
| 飛耳長目 | ひじちょうもく | Being well-versed on something |
| 煩悶懊悩 | はんもんおうのう | Anguish |
| 万緑一紅 | ばんりょくいっこう | One red flower standing out in a see of green vegetation |
| 万事承知 | ばんじしょうち | Being well aware of |
| 八方美人 | はっぽうびじん | A woman who looks beautiful from all angles |
| 拈華微笑 | ねんげみしょう | Heart-to-heart communication |
| 如是我聞 | にょぜがもん | Thus I hear |
| 如露如電 | にょろにょでん | Existence is as incorporeal as the morning dew or flash of lightning |
| 南無八幡 | なむはちまん | I beseech your aid against my enemy! |
| 内剛外柔 | ないごうがいじゅう | Being gentle on the outside but tough on the inside |
| 土崩瓦解 | どほうがかい | Complete collapse |
| 道聴塗説 | どうちょうとせつ | Shallow-minded mouthing of secondhand information |
| 闘志満々 | とうしまんまん | Brimming with fighting spirit |
| 東西古今 | とうざいここん | All times and places |
| 桃紅柳緑 | とうこうりゅうりょく | The beautiful scenery of spring |
| 同工異曲 | どうこういきょく | Different in appearance but the same in content |
| 天網恢恢 | てんもうかいかい | Heaven’s vengeance is slow but sure |
| 恬淡虚無 | てんたんきょむ | Rising above the trivia of life and remaining calm and selfless |
| 天真流露 | てんしんりゅうろ | Manifestation of one’s natural sincerity |
| 天地晦冥 | てんちかいめい | The world is covered in darkness |
| 天空海闊 | てんくうかいかつ | The open sky and serene sea |
| 天下泰平 | てんかたいへい | Peaceful and tranquil |
| 痛快淋漓 | つうかいりんり | To be extremely delightful |
| 痴話喧嘩 | ちわげんか | Lover’s quarrel |
| 跳梁跋扈 | ちょうりょうばっこ | Evildoers being rampant and roaming at will |
| 寵愛一身 | ちょうあいっしん | To stand highest in one’s master’s favor |
| 忠言逆耳 | ちゅうげんぎゃくじ | Good advice is harsh to the ear |
| 躊躇逡巡 | ちゅうちょしゅんじゅん | Hesitation and vacillation |
| 魑魅魍魎 | ちみもうりょう | All sorts of weird creatures |
| 着眼大局 | ちゃくがんたいきょく | To take a broad view of things |
| 智慧不惑 | ちえふわく | A wise man never wavers |
| 知行合一 | ちこうごういつ | The doctrine of the unity of knowledge and action |
| 単刀直入 | たんとうちょくにゅう | Going right to the point |
| 男尊女卑 | だんそんじょひ | Male domination of women |
| 多岐亡羊 | たきぼうよう | Truth is as hard to find as a sheep lost in a vast plain |
| 大漁貧乏 | たいりょうびんぼう | Impoverishment of fisherman due to a bumper catch |
| 大胆巧妙 | だいたんこうみょう | Bold and clever |
| 大山鳴動 | たいざんめいどう | A big fuss over nothing |
| 大器晩成 | たいきばんせい | Great talents mature late |
| 則天去私 | そくてんきょし | Following heaven and abandoning self |
| 造反有理 | ぞうはんゆうり | To rebel is justified |
| 先憂後楽 | せんゆうこうらく | Hardship now, pleasure later |
| 戦々恐々 | せんせんきょうきょう | To be filled with trepidation |
| 絶体絶命 | ぜったいぜつめい | Desperate situation |
| 切磋琢磨 | せっさたくま | Cultivating one’s mind by studying hard |
| 世上万般 | せじょうばんぱん | Everything in this world |
| 青天白日 | せいてんはくじつ | To be cleared of all charges |
| 正邪善悪 | せいじゃぜんあく | Right and wrong |
| 政権亡者 | せいけんもうじゃ | One who is obsessed with political power |
| 酔眼朦朧 | すいがんもうろう | With drunken eyes |
| 垂涎三尺 | すいぜんさんじゃく | Avid desire |
| 衰退一途 | すいたいいっと | Being on the wane |
| 頭寒足熱 | ずかんそくねつ | Keeping the head cool and the feet warm |
| 人馬一体 | じんばいったい | Unity of rider and horse |
| 心頭滅却 | しんとうめっきゃく | Clearing one’s mind of all mundane thoughts |
| 神色自若 | しんしょくじじゃく | Perfect composure |
| 心身一如 | しんしんいちにょ | Body and mind as one |
| 辛酸甘苦 | しんさんかんく | Hardships and joy |
| 支離滅裂 | しりめつれつ | Incoherent |
| 諸行無常 | しょぎょうむじょう | All worldly things are transitory |
| 四面楚歌 | しめんそか | To be surrounded by enemies on all sides |
| 生者必滅 | しょうじゃひつめつ | All living things must die |
| 純真無垢 | じゅんしんむく | Pure and innocent |
| 秋風落莫 | しゅうふうらくばく | Forlorn and helpless |
| 遮二無二 | しゃにむに | Recklessly |
| 詩人墨客 | しじんぼっかく | Poets and artists |
| 残念無念 | ざんねんむねん | What a pity! |
| 昨非今是 | さくひこんぜ | Complete reversal of values |