1.
compound word, especially kanji compounds
A word formed by combining two or more kanji characters.
漢字の熟語を覚えるのは大変だ。
Memorizing kanji compound words is difficult.
この熟語の意味を教えてください。
Please tell me the meaning of this compound word.
二字熟語を使って文を作りなさい。
Make a sentence using a two-character compound word.
2.
idiom, set phrase
A fixed expression or phrase with a specific meaning.
四字熟語のテストがあった。
There was a test on four-character idioms.
スピーチに四字熟語を入れると、印象に残りやすい。
Including four-character idioms in a speech makes it more memorable.
「一石二鳥」は日本語でもよく使われる四字熟語だ。
'Killing two birds with one stone' is a four-character idiom commonly used in Japanese too.
COMMON TYPES:
- 二字熟語 (two-character compounds, e.g., 勉強)
- 四字熟語 (four-character idioms, e.g., 一石二鳥)
四字熟語 are particularly important in Japanese:
- Often derived from classical Chinese
- Used to express complex ideas concisely
- Commonly tested in schools
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 熟語を覚える (to memorize compound words)
- 熟語の意味 (meaning of a compound)
- 熟語を作る (to form compound words)
[Register: Neutral]