Become positive with four-character idioms that resonate with the heart! Common yet deeply meaningful words.

a serious match4

This four-character idiom expresses giving something your all and tackling it with true seriousness; it conveys the determination to seize your goal.

Originally, it referred to fighting with real swords and risking one’s life, but from the sense of “a life-or-death exchange,” it came to be used as a phrase that expresses moving forward with firm resolve.

Because it involves a contest with real swords, one might picture interactions between people, but it’s used for all kinds of goals.

Rather than meaning to defeat a goal, it reads more as an expression of one’s stance—of setting one’s own resolve.

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kappamaki

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cooperation in unity5

It’s a four-character idiom that expresses uniting hearts and joining forces, embodying a spirit of compromise and a drive to push forward.

When there are multiple people, differences of opinion can arise, but it conveys the idea of overcoming them and moving toward a shared goal.

It suggests an ideal in which exchanging views, setting a single objective, and advancing toward it unleashes great strength.

Rather than a phrase that simply seeks friendliness, it conveys a forward-driving attitude of mutually elevating one another and pressing ahead.

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giving it your all5

In baseball, when a pitcher throws the ball with all their strength, it’s called “zenryoku-tōkyū,” meaning a full-power pitch.

In other words, it means facing something by using all of your strength.

Don’t you also have moments when you need to give it your all? For example, before a sports match or a test.

You cut back on time for games or videos to practice or study, right? When we see that kind of dedication, we say, “That’s zenryoku-tōkyū.” Putting your whole heart into something and aiming higher is truly wonderful.

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sasashina

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Stay true to your original intention.5

If you have goals and are working hard, be sure to remember this phrase.

Seeing through what you decided at the beginning to the very end—that is shoshi-kantetsu (carrying out one’s original intention).

If you’ve decided, “I’ll be top of the class on the test!” or “I’ll become a baseball player!”, then follow through to the end! When you feel you’re not getting closer to your goal, you might be tempted to just give up.

In moments when you feel like you’re about to lose to yourself, recall the four-character idiom shoshi-kantetsu and take a moment to reconsider why you’re pursuing that goal in the first place.

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Grand unity5

This is a four-character idiom that means different groups or parties overcome their differences, join forces, and unite for a common purpose.

Because of the Daidō Danketsu (Great Unity) movement in mid-Meiji Japan, the term also carries a strong political nuance.

Still, the idea of a large number of people advancing toward a goal conveys a sense of strength.

Moving forward together toward a major objective also entails seeking understanding from those around you, and within this brief phrase you can feel the resolve to win their acceptance.

Since the word presupposes many people combining their strength, it clearly conveys the sense of striving toward a grand ideal.

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single-mindedly; with undivided focus

A simple 1-minute anime that even elementary school students can understand explains the meaning of the four-character idiom “Isshin Furan” (wholeheartedly, with undivided attention) ★ How to remember four-character idioms ★ How to use four-character idioms

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.

single-minded devotion

[Ichii Senshin] Meaning and example sentences of the four-character idiom @ Kerokero Dictionary ◆ 1 minute by video! Memorable♪

This four-character idiom, read as “ichiisen-shin,” is composed of the words “ichi-i” (single-minded intention) and “senshin” (wholehearted devotion).

“Ichi-i” means to focus on a single goal, while “senshin” refers to committing oneself wholeheartedly to one thing.

Since both carry similar meanings, the idiom conveys the image of someone who has resolved to concentrate on one thing and is diligently striving toward it.

Try using it when you’ve found something you truly want to do, or when you want to express that you recognize and support someone’s determination to do their best.