Amusing four-character idioms you’ll want to use right away! A collection of expressions to remember as general knowledge.

bizarre and mysterious

Bizarre and mysterious #shorts

It can also be written using the repetition symbol as “奇々怪々.”

Of course, it’s read “kiki-kaikai.” Since it combines the characters for “strange” (奇) and “mysterious/monstrous” (怪), even the written form gives a scary impression.

It’s a four-character idiom used to refer to things beyond human understanding and mysterious phenomena that cannot be explained by common sense.

Many of the stories told as summer ghost tales are described as “kikikaikai,” aren’t they? Like how a human-shaped stain that was on the wall until yesterday suddenly disappeared… You probably have at least one or two kikikaikai happenings around you too!

reluctantly

I feel like smart people can casually use even four-character idioms.

This particular term isn’t one you hear every day, so it’s pretty cool if you can slip it in smoothly.

It’s read as “fushō-bushō.” Fushō means “not consenting,” and by repeating it, the word often conveys the sense of “reluctantly, unwillingly.” The repetition makes it sound truly begrudging in a funny way, and it also reminds you that this feeling is something people have always had.

Try using it like this: “After being pestered to tears, I reluctantly agreed.”

Self and others are alike

@iroha.o_1128

Isn't it absolutely unreadable??translationTranslationTranslationRecommendation#fyp

♬ Electro Swing sounds like old vinyl sampling(1066214) – Ponetto

At first glance, the four-character idiom “已己巳己” might make you think it’s just the same character repeated.

しかし実際には、「已」「己」「巳」という3つの異なる文字から成る「いこみき」と読む四字熟語です。

Because these similar-looking characters are lined up together, the idiom is used to refer to things that closely resemble each other.

Instead of saying “You look identical” when seeing twins or people who look alike, try saying “It’s ‘ikomiki’!”—you might come across as very clever.

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SAKI

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recklessly charging ahead

Four-character idiom: Headlong charge — An unstoppable passion moves everything forward!

It contains the character for “boar,” which gives it a strong, forceful feel.

On New Year’s cards for the Year of the Boar, you almost always see this character leaping off the page.

This four-character idiom is read “chototsu mōshin.” Its meaning is exactly “to charge straight ahead like a boar, looking only forward.” For those who always hesitate, thinking, “What if I fail…,” it could be an encouraging phrase.

It can also serve to showcase your proactive personality in part-time job or company interviews.

You can even feel the momentum in the explosive sound of “chototsu”!

rights and wrongs; pros and cons; rights and wrongs of a matter

Calling good things good and bad things bad is called 'zezehihi' (是是非非).

It’s quite difficult to do this without being swayed by position or power, but it’s the way things ideally should be.

This four-character idiom looks almost like a typo at first glance, which makes its arrangement of characters interesting.

It’s pronounced “ze-ze-hi-hi,” and if you don’t know it, you might not even realize in conversation that it’s a four-character idiom.

When you want to solve problems or make proper evaluations, judge matters from a neutral standpoint using zezehihi.

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sasashina

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carefree person

This four-character idiom, which features a string of difficult kanji, is read as “gokuraku-tonbo.” It refers to an easygoing person who doesn’t think deeply about things and fails to recognize the seriousness of situations, and it’s generally used in a negative sense.

The term is said to have originated from the image of a dragonfly lazily flitting about.

Although it’s a word used to disparage someone, in today’s stress-filled society, some people see it as an ideal way of life.

Doing nothing and just passing the time—depending on the person, that might be the ultimate luxury.

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ecstatic frenzy

This is a four-character idiom that describes being so happy you can’t help but break into a dance.

It’s read as “kyōki ranbu,” and since it contains the word “kyōki” (madness), you can tell the joy it expresses is extremely intense.

Imagining someone dancing with delight is a bit amusing, isn’t it? There’s nothing wrong with being happy, but you should pay attention to your surroundings.

If you’re too overjoyed to notice what’s around you, you might get hurt.

May something happen to all of you that makes you so happy you dance with wild joy!

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sasashina

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