Japanese 4-Letter Idioms 3
Tue, 03/13/2018 - 23:51
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 3 Quiz!
Before you take the test, lets study some new idioms
Yojijukugo Idioms 3 Quiz!
Before you take the test, lets study some new idioms
事実無根
(jijitsu mukon)
groundless, false
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 事 | ji | thing |
| 実 | jitsu | truth |
| 無 | mu | none |
| 根 | kon | root |
この噂は事実無根だ。Kono uwasa wa jijitsumukon da.This rumor is groundless.
自由自在
(jiyuu jizai)
unrestricted, in control
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自 | ji | oneself |
| 由 | yuu | reason |
| 自 | ji | oneself |
| 在 | zai | exist |
自由自在にロボットを動かせる。Jiyūjizai ni robotto o ugokaseruThis robot can be moved freely.
小春日和
(koharu biyori)
late autumn weather, nice day
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 小 | ko | small |
| 春 | haru | spring |
| 日 | bi | day |
| 和 | yori | harmony |
今日は小春日和で、Tシャツだけでも大丈夫だ。Kyō wa koharubiyori de, tīshatsu dake demo daijōbu da.Today is a beautiful late autumn weather, and it's fine with just a T-shirt.
興味津々
(kyoumi shinshin)
very interesting
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 興 | kyou | entertain |
| 味 | mi | flavor |
| 津 | shin | port |
| 々 | shin | (repeat marker) |
新しい技術に興味津々だ。Atarashii gijutsu ni kyōmishinshin daI am very interested in the new technology.
問答無用
(mondou muyou)
no use in arguing
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 問 | mon | question |
| 答 | dou | solution |
| 無 | mu | nothing |
| 用 | you | use |
先生のいう事は問答無用だ。Sensei no iu koto wa mondō muyō da.There's no use in arguing with what the teacher says.
二人三脚
(ninin sankyaku)
two people, three-legged race, cooperation
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 二 | ni | two |
| 人 | nin | people |
| 三 | san | three |
| 脚 | kyaku | legs |
二人三脚でこの問題を解こう。Nininsankyaku de kono mondai o hodoko u.Let's work together and solve this problem.
才色兼備
(shishoku kenbi)
a woman, or person, with both beauty and intelligence
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 才 | sai | genius |
| 色 | shoku | colors |
| 兼 | ken | concurrent |
| 備 | bi | equip |
あの人は美人なお医者さんで、才色兼備だ。Ano hito wa bijin nao isha san de, saishokukenbi daThat person is a beautiful doctor, she has both beauty and intelligence.
正々堂々
(seisei doudou)
fair and square
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 正 | sei | correct |
| 々 | sei | - |
| 堂 | dou | public |
| 々 | dou | - |
正々堂々戦おう。Seiseidōdō tatakao u.Let's fight fair and square.
四苦八苦
(shiku hakku)
the four and eight kinds of suffering; in dire distress
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 四 | shi | four |
| 苦 | ku | suffer |
| 八 | ha | eight |
| 苦 | kku | suffer |
四苦八苦しても、頑張る。Shikuhakku shi te mo, ganbaru.Even if I'm in distress, I will fight on.
手前味噌
(temae miso)
one's own homemade miso, self flattening
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 手 | te | hand |
| 前 | mae | front |
| 味 | mi | flavor |
| 噌 | so | paste |
建設の事なら手前味噌だ。Kensetsu no koto nara temaemiso da.If it's about construction, leave it up to me.