Four-character idioms that help elementary schoolers not give up: words that spark the power to keep trying
To children who strive with a spirit of never giving up, we want to convey important messages through four-character idioms.
Many teachers and parents may feel the same way.
In this article, we introduce four-character idioms that are easy for elementary school students to understand and perfect for fostering motivation and a positive mindset.
These expressions can be used in a variety of situations—daily life, study, club activities, and more—so please find the words that will resonate with elementary school children according to their environment!
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Four-character idioms that encourage elementary school kids not to give up! Words that spark the power to persevere (21–30)
One day, one lifetime
Ichinichi isshō (One day, one lifetime) means treating each day with such care and intention that it becomes as meaningful as a whole life.
It encourages valuing your daily school life, playtime, studying, and lessons.
By keeping this in mind when you wake up in the morning or take on something new, you cultivate the drive to work positively toward your goals.
Including it in your New Year’s resolutions helps you adopt a mindset that makes each day fulfilling rather than wasted—an actionable and cool four-character idiom.
ingenuity and creativity
We live in a world where most questions can be answered by searching online.
Still, thinking and acting for yourself is an irreplaceable experience and a valuable asset for anyone.
There are many easy and convenient paths, but if you want to grow in the new year, try embracing ingenuity and creativity.
The time you spend thinking with your own mind and encountering new discoveries and possibilities will surely be enjoyable and fulfilling.
Even if the answer you reach is wrong, don’t worry—consider failure the foundation of success, broaden your perspective, and keep exploring original ideas and flashes of inspiration.
Good fortune comes to a cheerful home.
A smile is a magical expression that brings happiness not only to yourself but also to those around you.
If your child wants the new year to be filled with laughter, have them try writing this four-character idiom for their first calligraphy of the year.
This phrase is like turning the proverb “Good fortune comes to a smiling household” into a four-character idiom, and, just as the words suggest, it conveys that happiness comes to those who are always smiling.
It can be difficult for elementary school children to smile every day—whether they’ve had a fight with a friend or their studies aren’t going well.
But it’s precisely at such times that they should try to keep smiling and use this phrase with the mindset of drawing in good luck!
every move; every action
“Ikkyō-ichidō” (literally, “every single move”) is a four-character idiom that means paying attention to one’s actions and taking responsibility for them.
By being mindful even of small behaviors—such as how you speak and act at school or at home, and how you interact with friends—you can deepen trust with those around you.
In studying or sports, focusing carefully on each individual movement also makes it easier to achieve results.
Another appeal is that by being conscious of the small actions you take every day, you can build good habits and feel your own growth.
Keeping this phrase in mind helps cultivate the ability to live a careful and fulfilling life.
flexible; adaptable; responding appropriately to the situation
If you only ever do things in the one way you think is right, it becomes hard to choose a different path when something happens.
At times like this, it’s important to flexibly reconsider your course.
“Rinki-ōhen” (being flexible) means taking actions suited to the situation.
Acting with flexibility can be difficult, too.
By developing your ability to apply what you know, you’ll become better at adapting, so it’s a good idea to put that resolve into your first calligraphy of the year.
The first half, “臨機,” has many intricate components, so take care not to let the characters lose their form when you write them.
A fresh start
You couldn’t study hard last year, you didn’t perform well in sports, and you kept getting into fights with your friends.
If that sounds like your child, write this four-character idiom and make a fresh start—reset your mindset! It’s a waste of time to keep regretting what you couldn’t do in the past.
If studying, sports, and relationships with friends didn’t go well, just work hard from the new year! As a declaration of your determination to do your best in the year ahead, try writing these characters.
Note that the characters “機” and “転” contain small components and require fine spacing, so be careful when doing your first calligraphy of the year.
with all one’s might
If your child has something they want to work hard at in the new year, how about writing this four-character idiom? Isshōkenmei expresses the idea of tackling things earnestly and with full effort.
It’s a phrase that can encourage children who want to devote themselves to something—whether it’s studying, sports, lessons, or anything they want to try harder at or achieve better results in.
The character “ken” (懸) is a bit tricky, so when writing it for the first calligraphy of the year, be careful not to let the finer details get smudged!