四字熟語(よじじゅくご)

よじじゅくご
noun
four-character compound; yojijukugo
language
1. four-character compound; four-character idiom
A fixed expression consisting of four kanji characters, often derived from classical Chinese. These are a distinctive feature of the Japanese language and are commonly tested in school examinations.
四字熟語(よじじゅくご)のテストがある。
There's a test on four-character idioms.
一石二鳥(いっせきにちょう)はよく使(つか)われる四字熟語(よじじゅくご)だ。
"Killing two birds with one stone" is a commonly used four-character idiom.
スピーチに四字熟語(よじじゅくご)を入(い)れると格調(かくちょう)高(たか)い印象(いんしょう)を与(あた)える。
Including four-character idioms in a speech gives an impression of refinement.

Cultural note

Four-character compounds are an important part of Japanese education and literacy. Students learn them throughout elementary and middle school, and they frequently appear on exams. Many are borrowed from classical Chinese texts. Examples include 一期一会(いちごいちえ) (once-in-a-lifetime encounter), 以心伝心(いしんでんしん) (unspoken understanding), and 弱肉強食(じゃくにくきょうしょく) (survival of the fittest).

Forms

四(よ)字(じ) (four characters) + 熟語(じゅくご) (compound word).

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 慣用句(かんようく) (idiomatic expression)
Compare: 故事成語(こじせいご) (proverb derived from classical stories)
Compare: 成句(せいく) (set phrase)
Compare: 成語(せいご) (set phrase)
Related: 慣用語(かんようご) (idiom)
general
Added 2026.3.8 15:45 · Revised 2026.10.1 17:07
15500/15663_yojijukugo