Four-character idioms with numbers: clear explanations of meanings and usage
“Isshin furan” (single-minded devotion), “shichiten hakki” (fall down seven times, get up eight), “juunin toiro” (to each their own)…
Have you noticed that these common four-character idioms all contain numbers? Many four-character idioms with numbers express life lessons and mindsets.
Some describe achieving two results with one action, while others convey the strength to rise no matter how many times you fail.
Knowing their meanings can make daily life feel richer.
In this article, we’ve collected four-character idioms that include numbers.
We also explain their meanings and usage in detail, so try incorporating them into your everyday conversations.
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Four-character idioms that include numbers: Clear explanations of meanings and usage (11–20)
almost certainly
The four-character idiom that expresses a state that is almost complete is “九分九厘” (kubukurin).
"Bu" and "rin" are units, with nine bu meaning 90 percent and nine rin meaning 9 percent.
In other words, “九分九厘” means 99 percent.
You can use it like this: “Your success is ninety-nine percent certain,” or “He will come here with a ninety-nine percent chance.” It has a similar meaning to the expression many of you know, “十中八九” (juu-chuu-hakkou), so try using it in everyday conversation.
To each their own.
A four-character idiom meaning “ten people, ten colors = everyone has different ways of thinking and preferences.” For example, some people love curry, while others prefer ramen.
In the same way, it’s only natural that what each person values and likes will differ.
This phrase is perfect for cultivating kindness and consideration for those around you.
When you find yourself wondering, “Why does so-and-so think that way?” try remembering, “To each their own.” Everyone is different, and everyone is good—that’s the wonderful thing about this idiom.
If both adults and children can enjoy these “differences,” each day will become even more colorful.
killing two birds with one stone
@az0202za #TwoBirdsWithOneStone #FourCharacterIdiom #Learning
♬ Original Song – 0202civo – az0202za
They say, “If you take a walk in the park, you can refresh your mind and make up for a lack of exercise—truly killing two birds with one stone.” This means that by walking in the park and moving your body, you’ll both lift your spirits and address insufficient exercise.
It’s a four-character idiom used to express gaining two benefits or results from a single action.
When using the idiom ‘ikkyō ryōtoku’ (killing two birds with one stone), clearly explaining what action you take and what benefits or results you gain will make your point more persuasive and easier for others to understand.
single-mindedly; with undivided focus
This four-character idiom is read as “isshin furan,” and it describes the state of focusing intently on a single task.
It is used when one charges ahead toward a purpose or goal, rather than turning one’s attention to various things.
For example, during a sports match, an exam, or while absorbed in a favorite game, you might find yourself unconsciously becoming isshin furan.
However, concentrating too much on just one thing can lead to accidents or injuries, so it’s best to be careful.
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
@takanariai Yokai Four-Character Idioms, Volume 4! This time it’s “Shichiten Hakki” (Fall Seven Times, Rise Eight)! Thank you for the request, Tora-chan 🩷 A giant haniwa-like lifeform floats around, collapsing and getting back up, collapsing and getting back up… And with the final collapse, it transforms—unexpectedly—into a cute plushie!? The surprise happy ending is heartwarming! 🔹 If you create your own yokai based on a four-character idiom and share it with me, I’ll definitely share it onward! 🔥 The NEO Three Sisters vs. Yokai Four-Character Idioms— a new battle begins! 👊✨translationyokaiFour-character-idiom yokai#aiartCreative yokai
♫ Original Song – Takanari – Takanari @ Takanari AI
It is a four-character idiom that expresses the strength to rise again and again, even when facing various hardships in life.
Failure and setbacks happen to everyone, but by refusing to give up and trying again each time, those experiences lead to confidence and growth.
This phrase symbolizes not just effort and grit, but a positive mindset.
Each time you get back up after a fall, your perspective broadens and new possibilities come into view.
When you feel uncertain or anxious in daily life or at work, remembering this spirit can restore courage and hope.
It is an idiom that gives the power to move forward to all who keep challenging themselves.
Ten people, ten colors (to each their own; everyone has their own tastes and preferences)
@kotobaano To each their own.#shortsTranslationProverbTranslation
♬ Original Song – Kotobāno – Kotobāno | Word Explanation
This four-character idiom is often used in situations where different feelings or states are acknowledged, or where preferences and ideas vary depending on the situation or person.
“Jūnin” refers to many people, and “toiro” expresses a variety of ideas and personalities.
For example: “People’s tastes in clothing are all different and interesting,” “Even when watching the same drama, the way people feel and interpret it varies and that’s enjoyable,” and “In this day and age, work styles differ from person to person, and that’s good.” It’s recommended to use this expression when recognizing individuality and preferences in contexts where many opinions and ways of thinking are present.
Buddha-lands numbering in the hundreds of billions
A distinctive four-character idiom that uses very large units like ten-thousand and hundred-million, it literally indicates an extremely great distance.
“Soil” here refers to the Buddha’s realm, and by extension “juuman-okudo” (literally “a hundred million times ten thousand lands”) signifies the Buddha-land far, far beyond—namely, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Pure Land is the realm of the Buddha to which one is guided after death.
Although it is a Buddhist term, this idiom can also be used to describe an endlessly distant journey one could never reach, or an unattainably high goal.
Pronunciation: juuman-okudo.
Three Thousand Worlds
Originally a Buddhist term, it is said to refer to all the worlds that spread out infinitely.
Today, it is often used simply to mean “the whole world” or “everything in this world,” serving as an expression that captures vastness and complexity in a single phrase.
It evokes the layering of human endeavors and ideas, joys and sufferings, lending depth to language.
Its stacked characters create a distinctive atmosphere that leaves a strong impression, and incorporating it into writing can instantly broaden the sense of worldbuilding.
It is a four-character idiom that symbolizes grandeur, combining a vast scale with a spiritual dimension.
advantages and disadvantages; merits and demerits; pros and cons
@dbdsjohn2008 Pros and Cons #ShortstranslationProverb
♬ original sound – dbdsjohn2008 – dbdsjohn2008
Ichō-ittan (lit.
“one strength, one weakness”) is a phrase that means something isn’t perfect.
Ichō refers to a strong point, and ittan to a weak point.
It’s often used when telling someone that everyone has things they’re good at and things they’re not.
While “not perfect” can sound negative, this expression is frequently used kindly to mean accepting a person as they are.
It’s also used when choosing between options: “Each has its pros and cons, so I can’t decide.” It’s one of the four-character idioms that’s easy to use in everyday conversation.
next to nothing; dirt cheap; worth almost nothing
@yojijyukugo.seizan translationworking adultTranslationstudy
Original Song – Four-character Idioms/Holy Mountain – Four-character Idioms/Holy Mountain
It is often used for things that have little value, or that are treated unfairly cheaply with their value unrecognized.
It applies, for example, when something took a lot of effort to make and is labor-intensive but yields little profit, or when selling unwanted items.
Try using the four-character idiom in sentences like: “I took brand-name goods to a recycle shop, but they were bought for next to nothing,” or “They were vegetables I had worked hard to grow, but the price was a pittance.” If you explain the origin of the term while posing quiz questions, it will make for a deeper, more engaging quiz.