For Elementary School Students: Four-Character Idioms You Can Use for New Year’s Resolutions — How to Set Cool Goals!
When welcoming the New Year, why not express your goals with four-character idioms? In this article, we’ve gathered yojijukugo that are easy for elementary school students to use as New Year’s resolutions.
From isshoukenmei (giving your all) to shoshi-kantetsu (sticking to your original intention), these are words that are easy for kids to remember and have cool meanings.
They’re perfect for kakizome calligraphy or class presentations! Each idiom’s meaning is explained in a simple way, so while talking with your child about “What kind of year do you want this to be?”, try choosing a favorite phrase together.
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[For Elementary School Students] Four-character idioms you can use for New Year’s resolutions: How to set cool goals! (11–20)
A sudden resolve; making a firm decision (to start afresh).
Ichinen-hokki is a four-character idiom meaning to tackle something with firm resolve.
Making it a New Year’s resolution can be the push you need to boldly take on things you haven’t managed before or challenges you want to try.
For example, by keeping this phrase in mind for goals like studying a difficult subject or practicing a new skill, you’ll be more likely to persevere without giving up.
Facing what you’ve decided with renewed determination and full commitment leads to confidence and a sense of achievement.
It’s an encouraging phrase that helps turn resolve into action and fosters the drive to approach each day with enthusiasm.
single-minded devotion
“Ichisen-shin” (Ichiisen-shin) is a four-character idiom meaning to concentrate one’s mind on a single task.
It fosters the mindset of focusing on goals you’ve set for yourself—whether in studying, sports, or lessons.
By making plans and putting in steady effort day by day, and by facing what you’re not good at, you can cultivate concentration and perseverance.
The experience of seeing one thing through without being swayed by outside temptations leads to confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
By keeping this saying in mind, you can build the ability to work steadily toward your goals and enjoy a fulfilling year.
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.
with all one’s might
When you set out to do something, the determination to work hard and see it through to the end is important.
So how about adopting the four-character idiom “isshōkenmei” as your New Year’s resolution? The term originates from “isshokenmei,” which referred to samurai risking their lives to protect their fief, their very means of livelihood.
Today, it’s widely used with the meaning of “putting one’s life on the line.” While life-or-death situations are rare in modern times, it’s a phrase that conveys a strong will to accomplish something—making it well-suited as a New Year’s resolution.
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.
Forge ahead with courage
This is a four-character idiom that means “to press forward toward a goal without fear.” For example, when you bravely take on a difficult obstacle relay at a sports day or speak in front of everyone at your first recital, that’s yuō-maishin (fearless, steady advance).
It’s the same when you tackle tough math problems or try a new extracurricular without being afraid.
By moving forward without worrying about failure, your abilities grow and grow.
It’s an energetic, positive phrase that teaches the importance of continuing to challenge yourself without fear.
Excellence in both academics and sports
This is a four-character idiom that means “to work hard at both studies and sports in a well-balanced way.” For example, diligently studying math and Japanese in class while staying active after school with soccer or running is bunbu ryōdō.
It’s the same when you practice piano or drawing thoroughly while also building your body through jump rope or swimming.
By valuing and making an effort in both academics and physical activity—not just one or the other—you can help your mind and body grow healthily.
If you keep the spirit of “bunbu ryōdō” in mind in your school life and daily lessons, it’s a positive and important phrase that helps you become stronger in a well-balanced way, both in heart and body.
steady progress day by day; making rapid strides
“Nisshin-geppo” means making steady progress day by day—like practicing kanji a little every day so you can learn them, or working hard on arithmetic daily so you can do calculations quickly and accurately.
The same applies to sports: if you keep practicing soccer or jump rope every day, you’ll gradually get better.
You can also improve at piano or drawing through daily practice.
It’s a positive, encouraging four-character idiom that means, “If you keep at it steadily every day, you can get a little better.” In anything, by building up your efforts, you can make progress little by little each day.
Indomitable; unyielding (literally: ‘unbent by a hundred setbacks’)
It means to keep trying without giving up, no matter how many times you fail.
For example, even if you mess up many times at jump rope, you practice until you can finish it, or if you get a difficult math problem wrong, you keep challenging it without giving up—that’s “hyakusetsu-futō” (unyielding despite a hundred setbacks).
It’s the same when drawing: even if it doesn’t come out as you imagined, you redo it over and over until it’s complete.
By persevering without losing heart after failures, you gradually improve and become able to do new things.
This upbeat and encouraging four-character idiom teaches the importance of continuing to work hard with a strong will.
simplicity and fortitude
This is a four-character idiom that means “to be unadorned and have a solid mind and body.” For example, diligently doing your homework every day and studying, or strengthening your body through exercise and playing outside, are examples of shitsu-jitsu-gō-ken (sobriety and sturdiness).
It means valuing being strong in both mind and body and doing what is right over decorating your appearance.
Also, even if you have a quarrel with a friend, calmly talking things through correctly shows the spirit of shitsu-jitsu-gō-ken.
It is a very important phrase that teaches us, in our daily lives, to make energetic efforts and to nurture our minds and bodies straight and true.