[Elementary School Students] Perfect for Kakizome! A Collection of Four-Character Idiom Ideas
When the New Year arrives, many people find themselves unsure about what words to choose for their child’s first calligraphy of the year.
So here, we’ve gathered ideas for four-character idioms that are perfect for elementary school students.
They’re strong and easy to write, easy to understand, and well-suited to expressing wishes for the year ahead—options you can choose from based on grade level and personality.
Kakizome isn’t just practice for writing neatly; it’s also a chance to learn the meanings of words.
Check the meanings together with your child and find the perfect phrase that matches this year’s goals!
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[Elementary School] Want to write for Kakizome! A Collection of Four-Character Idiom Ideas (1–10)
ingenuity and creativity
When you’re doing crafts, drawing, or organizing an event, adding a little twist can often make things go smoothly.
Creativity and ingenuity refer to the way we generate new ideas to accomplish or build things.
While mastering the basics is important, even a small inventive touch can open the door to a whole new world.
If your child is thinking of working harder in the new year by being more resourceful and adaptable, why not have them choose this phrase for their first calligraphy of the year?
steady progress day by day; making rapid strides
Elementary school children who grow the more they try are the very embodiment of the phrase “steady progress day by day,” aren’t they? This expression, which describes growing, developing, and making advances day after day, is also recommended for kakizome (the first calligraphy of the year).
Another plus is that it doesn’t contain complicated kanji, making it easier to grasp each component clearly.
On the other hand, while you grow more as you tackle things, you won’t grow at all if you do nothing.
If your child tended to slack off a bit last year, have them write this four-character idiom for their New Year’s calligraphy and value daily effort!
work in the fields on sunny days, read books on rainy days
This phrase means: on sunny days, thoroughly till the rice fields and vegetable patches to prepare the soil, and on rainy days, spend time indoors reading at a relaxed pace.
While such an unhurried lifestyle may differ a bit from that of an elementary school child, try changing the way you think about it.
For example, consider sunny days as important days for challenges and put in your best effort on those days.
See rainy days as days for storing up—sometimes taking a break and taking time to absorb knowledge is important, too.
Try shifting your perspective to your everyday life and incorporating this mindset into the new year through your first calligraphy of the year.
[Elementary School] Great for the first calligraphy of the year! A collection of four-character idiom ideas (11–20)
Forge ahead with courage
@ryo_uchiyama_roy Single-minded advance: to move straight toward your goal without distraction 🔥march forward with courageFour-character idiomscalligrapher#Dancer#art#ArtistRecommendationCalligraphyWork#DemonSlayerCalligraphy ArtBeautiful handwritingSignboardLogocool#artwork#MachikoritaVoice
Tanjiro Kamado’s Song (Demon Slayer) – Sachi Wakasa
It’s a four-character idiom that means to keep moving forward toward your goal.
At New Year’s, many people set fresh resolutions, and even elementary school students likely have ideas about “how I want to be this year.” They surely wish to make those hopes a reality as well.
Yūō-maishin (勇往邁進) is the perfect phrase for such times.
Once you’ve set a goal or purpose, don’t give up—keep advancing with courage.
To cement your resolve and maintain a strong will, write this idiom as your first calligraphy of the year and post it somewhere you can always see it.
Blue sky beyond the clouds
@yoji_jukuko Four-character idiomTranslationtranslationBlue sky beyond the clouds
♬ Escort – MoppySound
When you’re in the midst of hardship, it’s natural to worry whether you can really find your way out.
Ungai-souten (literally “blue sky beyond the clouds”) means that a wonderful view awaits beyond difficulties, and it encourages those who are struggling.
Some elementary school children may be facing various challenges and worries, like “I can’t seem to get a good score on tests” or “I can’t achieve good results in my lessons.” But in the new year, let’s break through those hardships and encounter wonderful outcomes! With that hope in mind, try writing this phrase for your first calligraphy of the year.
Once-in-a-lifetime encounter
Encounters with people sometimes lead to long-term relationships like friendships, but in most cases they end as a single passing moment.
In Japanese, a once-in-a-lifetime encounter is expressed by the phrase ichigo ichie.
Precisely because most encounters are ichigo ichie, we should cherish the friends we’ve grown close to and the family who always helps us.
It might be nice to reframe your thinking with that sentiment.
Except for the character 期, the other kanji are relatively easy to write, so try your first calligraphy of the year while paying attention to balance.
Late bloomer
When you set a big goal, you might feel like giving up because it’s hard to achieve.
But don’t give up! The bigger the goal, the more time it often takes to reach.
The phrase “taiki bansei” (great talents mature late) describes exactly this situation, so if your child has set a major goal and is worried because progress feels slow, why not try writing it as their first calligraphy of the year? The first half, “taiki” (great vessel/talent), is also perfect for learning balance, making it an excellent practice phrase for New Year’s kanji calligraphy.