Four-character idioms that help you achieve goals! Phrases you can use in everyday situations
Four-character idioms like “united as one” (icchi danketsu) and “fall down seven times, get up eight” (shichiten hakki) are familiar parts of our everyday language.
Simple yet powerfully persuasive, these idioms can support us when we set goals.
Among the commonly used idioms, some even contain hints for achieving your dreams and ideals.
In this article, we’ll introduce four-character idioms that are helpful for people working toward their goals, along with their meanings and example sentences.
Let these resonant words help you take steady steps toward the future you envision.
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Four-character idioms that help you achieve goals! Versatile phrases for everyday situations (1–10)
Blue sky beyond the clouds
@az0202za # Beyond the clouds, the sky is blue # Believe in “beyond the clouds, the sky is blue” and never give up # Four-character idiom
♬ Original Song – 0202civo – az0202za
It is said to originate from a Chinese poem by the literati Xie Fangde, which includes the line “a crane pierces beyond the clouds and ascends into the blue sky.” Just as clear skies spread out once you pass through the clouds, the phrase is used to mean that good fortune will surely come after hardship.
It’s a four-character idiom that we especially want those facing difficulties now to savor.
It is also used to express original thinking unconstrained by preconceived notions or conventional wisdom, and can refer to a free state removed from worldly concerns.
Say what you mean, do what you say.
Saying you’ll do something and actually doing it is simple, but surprisingly hard.
In everyday life, we often end up just talking—like “I’ll clean tomorrow” or “I should exercise.” But when I remember this phrase, it kind of flips my motivation switch.
I like that it applies not only to big goals but also to small, everyday things.
Following through on what you say gives you the power to trust yourself a little more—That’s the kind of four-character idiom it is.
Single-minded focus spanning a vast distance
@yoji_jukuko Four-character idiomTranslationtranslationA clear sky stretching for ten thousand milesThis is a revised thumbnail for a past video.
♬ Escort – MoppySound
This four-character idiom expresses the idea of continuing to strive toward a single goal without letting your mind be led astray.
Rather than stemming from a typical Chinese anecdote common to many idioms, it originates from a passage in Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings.
Because it conveys the notion that a single sky continues no matter how far you go, it is also used to signify the expansiveness of the world.
Musashi’s writings contain many insights useful to people today, so if you’re interested, why not give them a read?
Four-character idioms that help you achieve goals! Phrases you can use in everyday situations (11–20)
indomitable; unyielding
https://www.tiktok.com/@kurukoba/video/7393271286702640400It expresses the strength to not break even when facing difficulties and to rise again and again.
Whether at work, in study, or in pursuing a hobby, things often don’t go as planned.
In those moments, remembering these words makes me feel I can still keep going.
What’s striking is that it’s not just about trying hard; it embodies a flexible, resilient drive to move forward.
By consciously taking things one step at a time without rushing, you can feel that even small daily efforts aren’t wasted.
I felt it’s a four-character idiom that serves as support in everyday life.
Perseverance wears down even stone. (Lit. “A steadfast heart can bore through rock.”)
Just hearing it somehow tightens your resolve.
It means that if you keep working hard with a strong will, you can accomplish anything, no matter how difficult.
In everyday life, it reminds us of the importance of continuing little by little, even if results don’t come right away.
For example, by steadily keeping up with studying, exercise, or lessons day by day, you can eventually achieve great results.
Being mindful of “shinkensekisen” (a steadfast heart can bore through stone) encourages you not to rush, not to give up, and to take one more step forward today.
I felt it’s a truly uplifting phrase.
a hard-fought struggle
This phrase describes the state of grappling desperately in the face of difficulties.
In everyday life, there are surprisingly many moments when things don’t go as planned—like meeting work deadlines, starting a new hobby, or figuring out better ways to do housework.
In such times, remembering this phrase can ease your mind by reminding you, “I’m not the only one.” It teaches us that the struggle itself matters and leads to growth.
Even if you can’t do things perfectly, you can still acknowledge yourself for pushing forward through the struggle.
That, to me, is the appeal of akusenkutō—“bitter battle and hard struggle”—a four-character idiom that offers a small encouragement in daily life.
Blue sky beyond the clouds
It’s a phrase that literally means there’s blue sky beyond the clouds.
Remembering it when you’re feeling down or stuck can make you a bit more positive.
For example, even on a day when you’re depressed after making a mistake at work, thinking, “I may be in the clouds now, but there’s blue sky ahead,” helps you reset and get back to it.
It gently reminds you that there is hope, without forcing you to cheer up.
I think it’s a four-character idiom that holds both kindness and strength at the same time.