[Kakizome] Four-character idioms fit for the New Year: Introducing words that resonate with the heart and their meanings
Are you thinking about what words to write for your first calligraphy of the year? Four-character idioms, which are popular every year, pack deep meaning into just a few characters and are perfect for expressing New Year’s resolutions.
Still, many people may wonder, “Which idiom should I choose?” In this article, we’ll introduce four-character idioms that are well-suited for the first calligraphy of the year.
From bold, striking phrases to words that fit your New Year’s determination, find the expression that’s just right for you.
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[Kakizome] Four-character idioms fit for the New Year: Introducing words that resonate with the heart and their meanings (51–60)
strenuous effort; hard-fought struggle
@mainiti4jizyukugo Today's four-character idiom is “Rikisen Funtō” (fighting with all one’s might)!!translation#fypDaily post#japanesecultureRailway
♪ Original song – mainiti4jizyukugo – mainiti4jizyukugo
It’s a phrase that means to fight with all your might and tackle things with your full effort.
It expresses an attitude of never giving up and facing any difficult situation head-on, doing your very best.
Despite being short, it conveys strength and positivity, and just hearing it can fill you with courage and energy.
Using this phrase with elementary school students can help teach them the importance of giving their all in practice and challenges, as well as the value of that mindset.
By keeping the meaning of this phrase in mind in daily life, they can cultivate the strength to face hardships and develop perseverance.
Best in the world
It’s a four-character idiom that describes a situation or thing so outstanding that nothing else in the world can compare.
Although the word is strongly associated with ramen, using it conveys strong confidence.
Since it means the best in the world, it’s used to refer to top-quality items.
It’s an easy phrase to use when promoting how wonderful you or what you have is, and to express strong confidence in it.
Vast sky and boundless sea
It is a four-character idiom that expresses a heart as vast and expansive as the sky or the sea, and a mindset free of any reservations, open to uninhibited ideas.
It symbolizes boundless possibilities and a carefree spirit, conveying the importance of keeping a broad perspective.
While accepting things as they are, it gives a positive impression of relaxing your shoulders and taking on challenges freely.
Even when facing difficulties, it suggests maintaining a generous heart and approaching situations with flexible thinking.
It can be called the perfect phrase for nurturing a spirit that believes in one’s own potential, thinks freely, and embraces challenges.
yokai henge
It’s a term that refers to eerie monsters and phenomena that possess mysterious powers beyond human understanding.
People often assume it describes yokai changing their shapes, but since both “yokai” and “henge” mean monsters, “yokai-henge” broadly encompasses all kinds of supernatural beings.
Because yokai leave such a strong impression, we tend to imagine monsters with visible forms, but inexplicable phenomena are included as well.
It’s a word that seems to convey the ancient mindset of labeling the incomprehensible as yokai or henge.
side-splitting laughter
What people find funny and laugh at varies from person to person, and their reactions have their own individuality.
One such reaction to laughter is a four-character idiom that describes laughing so hard you clutch your belly and almost fall over.
The expression originates from the ancient Chinese historical text Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), which conveys that laughter itself has a long history.
With its depiction of a big, expressive reaction, the word seems to convey happiness as well.
ecstatic; overjoyed; beside oneself with joy
You might not hear ‘uchōtengai’ very often, but you’ve probably heard ‘uchōten,’ right? Uchōten refers to a state where things go so well that you become overjoyed to the point of losing sight of your surroundings.
In other words, uchōtengai describes being even more ecstatic than uchōten.
It’s natural to be happy when things go well, but if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings, you might get into an accident or get hurt.
If you’re going to be uchōtengai, make sure you’ve secured your safety first.
And if you can also think about how your display of joy looks to those around you, that would be wonderful.
to eat and drink like a horse; gluttony and heavy drinking
This four-character idiom describes gulping down food and drink in large quantities—like cows drinking water and horses eating fodder—and expresses a voracious appetite.
It’s similar to “binge eating and drinking,” and is often used with a negative nuance, but it can also convey positive feelings when simply highlighting hearty appetite.
Because animals eat as much as they want when they want, the phrase can also evoke an image of unrestrained desire, prompting us to reflect on our own approach to eating.
Since it can carry either a positive or negative meaning, it’s important to judge from context which sense is intended at the moment.
ecstatic frenzy
This four-character idiom expresses a state of intense joy so great that you can’t help but break into dance.
It conveys the utmost happiness, with each character carrying a positive nuance in its strength.
Even the “ecstatic joy” part alone communicates delight, but adding “wild dance” brings a comical feel, as if you might actually start dancing.
It’s less about everyday, casual happiness and more perfectly suited to special occasions—times when the joy feels especially big.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Pronounced “seishin-ittō,” it carries the meaning that by focusing your mind, you can accomplish any difficult task, and that even challenging things can surely be achieved through sustained concentration and effort.
It’s an encouraging four-character idiom suggesting that if you stay focused and don’t give up on lessons, studies, or interests, you can reach your goals.
It may also be beneficial for parents to adopt the same mindset—watching over their children and boosting their spirits—as this can have a positive impact on the children as well.
to lie on firewood and taste gall (an idiom meaning to endure hardship and persevere for future revenge or success)
This four-character idiom, read as “gashin-shōtan,” means to endure hardship and persevere over a long period of time in order to achieve a goal.
As you keep working hard, there will be moments of failure or discouragement.
At such times, this idiom may support some children.
Even if they experience setbacks, it would be wonderful if they could use those experiences as a springboard to aim higher and ultimately accomplish their goals.
It is one of the expressions we especially want to pass on, as it helps cultivate the strong willpower and focus needed to keep striving without giving up.