Learn the meanings too! Cool four-character idioms that elementary school students will want to remember

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

“I want to learn some cool four-character idioms!” Many elementary school students probably feel that way—wanting to use them in school essays or speeches, or even make them their future goals.

Four-character idioms are full of words that express strong will and admirable attitudes.

Because they carry deep meanings, the more you learn about them, the more appealing they become.

Even though they’re just four characters long, many of them really resonate in your heart.

In this article, we’ll introduce four-character idioms that are easy for elementary school students to remember and use.

If you try them in conversations with friends or in your writing, you’re sure to develop wonderful expressive skills.

Learn the meanings too! Cool four-character idioms elementary schoolers will want to memorize (91–100)

Excellence in both academics and sports

A four-character idiom that means “Let’s work hard at both studying and sports!” It says that it’s important to study properly at school while also playing energetically with friends and getting exercise.

For example, if you memorize kanji and read books every day while also enjoying soccer or basketball, both your mind and body will grow stronger.

By aiming for bunbu ryōdō—excellence in both the literary and the martial—you can grow in a balanced way, both mentally and physically, and your everyday life will become more fun.

Even as an adult, valuing both your job and your hobbies follows the same idea of bunbu ryōdō.

Try living each day in a cool, well-balanced way with bunbu ryōdō!

Raise the rankinglower

kepiko

Report a problem

a clear and serene mind

It’s a four-character idiom that describes a state where the mind is bright like a polished mirror and calm like still water.

For example, before a competition you might feel your heart pounding.

If you take a deep breath and steady your mind at such times, you’ll feel refreshed, like a tranquil lake without a single ripple, and you can reach a state of meikyō-shisui.

With both your head and heart clear, it’s easier to perform at your best.

“Meikyō-shisui” is the perfect phrase for when you want to cleanse and calm your mind.

Whether you’re a child or an adult, if your heart feels unsettled, try remembering this phrase.

Raise the rankinglower

kepiko

Report a problem

work in the fields on sunny days, read books on rainy days

It’s a four-character idiom that describes a lovely way of life: working in the fields on sunny days and reading books at home on rainy days.

It carries the meaning of living in harmony with nature while taking good care of both body and mind.

For example, you might use it like this: “Since the weather is nice today, let’s play in the garden, and if it rains, let’s read books at home.” A seikō-udoku lifestyle—‘plowing in fair weather, reading in rainy weather’—offers a hint for enjoying each day at a relaxed pace.

It’s a phrase that helps both children and adults cherish comfortable moments.

Even when you’re busy, try being active outdoors on sunny days and taking it slow with some reading on rainy days to refresh yourself.

Raise the rankinglower

kepiko

Report a problem

Queen of the Night

Gekka-bijin is the name of a flower, also affectionately known by the alternative name “Night Queen,” a type famed for blooming only at night.

The way it quietly displays its beauty while people are fast asleep makes it seem as if it deliberately conceals its own charm.

Another point is that its beauty has spawned various folk tales, suggesting that it has long been cherished as a special flower.

Strictly speaking, it’s not a four-character idiom but simply a name; still, as a cool four-character word, it comes highly recommended.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Say what you mean, do what you say.

It’s a four-character idiom meaning “to firmly carry out what you say.” For example, if you say, “I’ll study every day starting tomorrow!” then actually continuing to study every day is yūgen-jikkō (literally, ‘spoken words, carried out’).

Instead of stopping at just talk, seeing things through once you decide to do them builds your confidence.

For instance, if you tell everyone before a soccer match, “I’m going to score a goal!” and you really do score, that’s super cool and feels great, right? Even with small things, if you start with what you can do and act responsibly according to your words, people around you will trust you more.

Starting today, try aiming for ‘yūgen-jikkō’!

Raise the rankinglower

kepiko

Report a problem