Strive toward your goals! Four-character idiom ideas that resonate with elementary school students

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 express my goals with a four-character idiom!” Many elementary school students and educators probably feel the same way.

Four-character idioms are full of wonderful words that can motivate us in all kinds of situations—studies, daily life, club activities, and more.

In this article, we’ll introduce four-character idioms that are perfect for setting goals, along with clear explanations of their meanings.

Please use this as a reference to help children encounter empowering words that inspire them to strive toward their dreams and goals!

Work hard toward your goals! Ideas for four-character idioms that resonate with elementary school students (41–50)

cutting straight through with a single stroke

It is a four-character idiom that means deciding things clearly without hesitation.

It conveys the strength to cut off doubt and hesitation, make judgments immediately, and take action.

The word evokes the image of neatly resolving even complex problems and worries, and despite its brevity, it communicates the weight of decisive action.

Just hearing it brings a bracing tension and gives you the courage to move forward without wavering.

It is a powerful phrase that teaches the importance of facing matters without hesitation and of having a firm will.

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Work Toward Your Goals! Four-Character Idiom Ideas That Resonate with Elementary School Students (51–60)

Fall down seven times, get up eight.

It’s read as “shichiten-hakki” or “nanakorobi yaoki.” From the idea of falling down seven times and getting up eight, it refers to persevering without giving up.

It’s a four-character idiom worth remembering not only for sports and studying, but also for lessons and first-time challenges.

You can use it to cheer on and encourage friends and family, not just yourself.

It also makes a great personal motto or theme for the year.

By all means, keep at it without giving up, even if you fail.

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Single-minded focus spanning a vast distance

@hiroaki946
Banri Ikkuu Shorts short video mini video idiom four-character idioms proverbs Japanese meaning of words wordplay learning education trivia Japanese culture pastime study knowledge trivia everyday life the power of words VOICEVOX: Shikoku Metan Satisfying four-character idiom to hear: “Banri Ikkuu.” Example sentence: After starting his company, Mr. Yamada faced many difficulties over several years, but each time he handled them calmly and always kept a broad perspective, looking ahead to the company’s future. One day, he gathered all the employees and said, “The goal we should aim for is not merely to solve the problems in front of us, but to achieve growth with a view to a more distant future.” Inspired by this “Banri Ikkuu” spirit, the employees united as one and pledged to work hard for the company’s future. Meaning: “Banri Ikkuu” literally describes a vast landscape stretching out under a single, continuous sky. This four-character idiom symbolizes having clear foresight and a broad perspective. It is especially used to refer to people or situations that can see far ahead into the future. That is all.
Original song – hiroaki946 – hiroaki946

Pronounced “banri ikkuu.” “Banri” means extremely far, and “ikkū” means the sky is one.

Originally, it conveyed the idea that no matter how far you go, the sky is connected as one.

Nowadays, it’s used to mean persevering and working hard toward a goal without giving up.

Even if a goal feels distant, thinking that steady effort will lead to achieving it can encourage children to say, “I’ll try a little harder.”

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An unwavering, deeply held aspiration

@hiroaki946
Meimei no kokorozashi Shorts Short videos Mini videos Idioms Four-character compounds Proverbs Japanese Language meanings Wordplay Learning Education Trivia Japanese culture Killing time Study Knowledge Trivia Everyday life The power of words VOICEVOX: Shikoku Metan Dark-sounding four-character idiom: “Meimei no kokorozashi” Example sentence: From a young age, he maintained a strong interest in astronomy. He never made his passion public to his family or friends, but he continued stargazing late into the night, and within his heart, a powerful longing for the stars and a burning “meimei no kokorozashi” to unravel the mysteries of the universe never ceased. As a result of his efforts, he was finally recognized as an international astronomer, and his name became known throughout the world. Meaning: Meimei no kokorozashi refers to a strong will or goal hidden within oneself that is unknown to others. This four-character idiom expresses deep wishes or resolve in the depths of one’s heart—things that do not appear outwardly but serve as the driving force behind a person’s actions and efforts. That is all.
Original song – hiroaki946 – hiroaki946

Pronounced “meimei no kokorozashi,” this four-character idiom combines two words: “冥冥” (meimei) and “志” (kokorozashi).

“冥冥” refers to a darkness without light or to something deep and hidden from people’s eyes, while “志” refers to a resolve one sets in one’s heart.

In other words, this idiom likely means “to make a determination deep in one’s heart without others knowing” or “to strive without announcing it to others.” The image of steadily working toward one’s self-set goals seems likely to influence many people.

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friendly rivalry; mutual improvement through competition

@miyomin22
“Sessatakuma (切磋琢磨)” — What does it mean?Meaning: To improve oneself through friendly rivalry or mutual encouragement; to polish and refine each other’s abilities by competing and working hard together.translation translation mutual improvement; spurring each other on through friendly rivalry #TikTokLIVE #LIVE
♪ Original Song – Miyomin Voice – Miyomin

Many people have heard this four-character idiom, and it’s read as “sessa takuma.” It appears to carry two meanings.

The first is: just as one carefully polishes stone or jade over time, one should refine one’s learning, morals, and skills.

The second is: to improve by competing with and encouraging one another among peers and those around you.

Achieving goals absolutely requires cooperation from others.

It’s ideal to have an environment where people can work while encouraging and being encouraged by each other.

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strenuous effort; hard-fought struggle

@mainiti4jizyukugo
Today's four-character idiom is “Rikisen Funtō” (fighting with all one’s might)!!translation #fyp Daily post #japaneseculture Railway
♪ 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.

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