Japanese 4-Letter Idioms 1
Fri, 03/02/2018 - 21:34
四字熟語 (yo-ji-juku-go) are four-letter idioms. These are different from words that are made up of four characters. Let's go over some of the most common yojijukugo, and take a quiz to see if you understand them!Yojijukugo Idioms 1 Quiz!
Before you take the test, lets study some new idioms
Yojijukugo Idioms 1 Quiz!
Before you take the test, lets study some new idioms
悪戦苦闘
(akusen kuto)
fighting, struggling hard
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 悪 | aku | bad |
| 戦 | sen | war |
| 苦 | ku | suffer |
| 闘 | tou | fight |
英語の宿題に悪戦苦闘する。Eigo no shukudai ni akusenkutō suru.I fight hard with the English homework.
八方美人
(happou bijin)
a beautiful woman, or person, inside and out
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 八 | ha | eight |
| 方 | pou | way |
| 美 | bi | beauty |
| 人 | jin | person |
優しくて綺麗で、あの人は八方美人だ。Yasashiku te kirei de, ano hito wa happōbijin daThat person is nice and pretty, beautiful inside and out.
一期一会
(ichigo ichie)
once in a lifetime meeting
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | ichi | one |
| 期 | go | period |
| 一 | ichi | one |
| 会 | e | meeting |
君と巡り合えたのは、一期一会だ。Kimi to meguriae ta no wa, ichigoichie da.Our meeting was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
一生懸命
(isshoukenmei)
with a lot of effort
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | i | one |
| 生 | sshou | life |
| 懸 | ken | depend |
| 命 | mei | fate |
一生懸命、心を込めて作りました。Isshōkenmei, kokoro o kome te tsukuri mashi ta.I worked really hard, and put my heart into what I made.
残念無念
(zannen munen)
disappointment
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 残 | zan | remainder |
| 念 | nen | wish |
| 無 | mu | nothing |
| 念 | nen | wish |
今日の試合に負けたのは、残念無念。Kyō no shiai ni make ta no wa, zannen munenIt was a disappointment we lost today's game.
三日坊主
(mikka bouzu)
monk for three days, gives up easily
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 三 | mi | three |
| 日 | kka | day |
| 坊 | bou | boy |
| 主 | zu | lord |
習い事も三日坊主じゃうまくならない。Naraigoto mo mikkabōzu ja umaku nara nai.I won't get better with my studies if I'm a quitter.
自給自足
(jikyuu jisoku)
self sufficient
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自 | ji | oneself |
| 給 | kyuu | salary |
| 自 | ji | oneself |
| 足 | soku | leg |
田舎で自給自足の生活をはじめたい。 Inaka de jikyūjisoku no seikatsu o hajime tai.I want to start living in a rural area and be self sufficient.
弱肉強食
(jakuniku kyoushoku)
survival of the fittest
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弱 | ja | weak |
| 肉 | niku | meat |
| 強 | kyou | strong |
| 食 | shoku | eat |
弱肉強食の世界で、生きていけるかな？Jakunikukyōshoku no sekai de, iki te ikeru ka na?Can I live in this world of the survival of the fittest?
意気投合
(ikitougou)
mutual understanding
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 意 | i | idea |
| 気 | ki | spirit |
| 投 | tou | throw |
| 合 | gou | fit |
来週の予定の事で、意気投合した。Raishū no yotei no koto de, ikitōgō shi ta.We are in agreement for our plans next week.
波乱万丈
(haran)
lots of drama
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 波 | ha | wave |
| 乱 | ran | riot |
| 万 | ban | ten thousand |
| 丈 | jyou | length |
つまらない人生より、波乱万丈な人生がいい。Tsumaranai jinsei yori, haranbanjō na jinsei ga ii.I'd rather have a life full of drama than a boring life.