Surprisingly tricky! Check your general knowledge with a four-character idiom quiz

killing two birds with one stone

“Killing two birds with one stone” means achieving two results or benefits through a single action or effort. It comes from a proverb about bringing down two birds with one stone, and it’s a four-character idiom commonly used in Japan as well. Since it makes efficient use of limited time and resources to produce a win-win outcome, it’s a useful concept in both business and everyday life.

in the same boat; share a common fate (lit. “live and die together as one lotus”)

Originally a Buddhist term meaning to be reborn together on the same lotus flower, “ichiren takushō” has come to signify sharing the same fate. It is most often used for relationships with deep trust, such as between spouses, as in “a bond of ichiren takushō.” It can also be used to express a readiness to accept adverse outcomes together.

selection and elimination

“Shusha Sentaku (Selection and Elimination)” is a four-character idiom that means choosing by taking what is necessary and discarding what is unnecessary. It refers to the act of discerning the essence of things, setting priorities within limited time, and proceeding efficiently to focus on what is most important. It is used in everyday situations.

like the east wind to a horse (an admonition goes unheeded; words fall on deaf ears)

This four-character idiom, read as “bajitōfū,” means to pay no heed to other people’s opinions or advice and to let them go in one ear and out the other. It comes from an old anecdote about a horse showing no reaction even when an east wind blows into its ear. It’s often used to describe someone who doesn’t take things seriously and just brushes them off, and you’ll hear it frequently in everyday conversation as well as in business settings.

Once-in-a-lifetime encounter

Ichigo ichie is a four-character idiom meaning a once-in-a-lifetime encounter or opportunity. It is also well known as a principle of the tea ceremony, teaching us to cherish each unrepeatable moment and meeting, and to do our best with the awareness that the same time and circumstances will never come again.

single-minded devotion

“Ichii Senshin” is a four-character idiom that describes focusing on one thing without letting your mind be distracted by anything else. It is an important attitude when you want to achieve a goal or tackle a difficult challenge, and it is considered an ideal mindset in various situations such as studying, work, and sports.

straight to the point

“Tantō chokunyū” is a four-character idiom that means skipping roundabout prefaces or explanations and getting straight to the point or the main topic. It originally comes from a Chinese expression, derived from the image of cutting straight into the enemy lines with a single sword. It’s commonly used in business settings and everyday conversation, as in “To be blunt,” or “To get straight to the point,” when you want to state the essence or conclusion directly. It’s a handy expression when you want to eliminate waste and move the conversation forward efficiently.

to lie on firewood and taste gall (an idiom meaning to endure hardship and persevere for future revenge or success)

“臥薪嘗胆” is read as “gashin-shōtan.” It is a four-character idiom meaning to persevere through hardships and continue making persistent efforts to achieve a goal—especially to endure suffering in order to carry out revenge or settle a score. It originates from a Chinese historical anecdote: it is said that during the Tang era, King Fuchai of Wu slept on firewood and King Goujian of Yue tasted bitter gall so they would not forget their enmity, giving rise to the expression.

being absorbed in something; being frantic; in a daze; wholeheartedly; with all one’s might

“Mugamuchū” is a four-character idiom that describes being so absorbed in something that you forget yourself and lose awareness of your surroundings. To work on something mugamuchū means nothing else catches your eye—you’re extremely focused. It’s a phrase often used in contexts like sports or the arts, when someone is fully devoted to an activity.

telepathy; tacit understanding (literally: 'heart-to-heart communication')

“Ishin-denshin” is a four-character idiom that refers to communicating feelings from heart to heart without using words. It originates from a Buddhist term, describing how the essence of a teaching is conveyed directly from master to disciple, not through words but mind to mind. Today, it’s often used to describe relationships—such as between close friends or family—where people can understand each other’s feelings and thoughts even without speaking.