Four-character idioms that convey grandeur: words expressing the vastness of nature, the breadth of thought, and the greatness of a person's character
Have you ever found yourself at a loss for the right words when you want to convey a grand sense of scale? “Sōdai” refers to something of great scale and magnificence, or the kind of largeness of character that conveys dignity.
Japanese contains many four-character idioms that express majestic nature, unwavering ideas, and the breadth of a person’s heart.
Used at just the right moment—whether in a speech, a personal motto, or naming a creative work—these expressions can add depth and weight to your words.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of four-character idioms that evoke grandeur.
You’re sure to find a special phrase that resonates with your heart!
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Four-character idioms that mean grandeur: words expressing the magnitude of nature, thought, and a person's character (11–20)
full of ups and downsNEW!

This is a four-character idiom that describes events unfolding with extreme intensity, with difficulties and troubles occurring one after another.
“Haran” means waves in turmoil, and by extension conflict, hardship, or instability; “banjō” is a metaphor for something very high.
It’s often used metaphorically for a life, as in, “His life, after he passed away, was full of ups and downs.” You could say that the progression of The Game of Life—the board game with the tagline “Life has its ups and downs”—is truly haran-banjo.
In conclusion
We introduced four-character idioms that convey a sense of grandeur.
These idioms hold a timeless power to move people’s hearts.
In quiet moments of everyday life, try recalling the expressions you encountered in this article.
Within these age-old phrases lives wisdom that still resonates with those of us living today.
The vast scale of these words will gently broaden your perspective.


