In this article, you will have the privilege of consulting a list of Japanese words formed by four kanji characters - the notorious "Yojijukugo" (四字熟語, よじじゅくご).
The amount of Yojijukugo in the Japanese language is immense and it would be practically impossible to list all that exist in just one single article.
With that in mind, we selected only the ones we consider most important and the ones that tend to appear more frequently in anime, manga and Japanese texts.
Remembering that if we have forgotten any important Yojijukugo, you can let us know through the comments or contact us via email.
NOTE: This dictionary will be expanded periodically.
Also read the article: Os Kanji E Palavras Mais Longas Do Idioma Japonês
Yojijukugo's Dictionary
- 全身全霊 (Zenshinzenrei) - Body and soul, complete devotion, total dedication, with maximum dedication.
- 海千山千 (Umisenyamasen) - Experienced person, represents the idea of something or someone who already has a lot of experience. Literally: "a thousand seas and a thousand mountains".
- 花鳥風月 (Kachoufuugetsu) - The beauties of nature.
- 風林火山 (Fuurinkazan) - Fast as the wind, calm as a forest, aggressive as fire and firm as a mountain.
- 一期一会 (Ichigoichie) - A once-in-a-lifetime encounter (unique moment). Denotes the importance of meeting someone.
- 賃貸住宅 Chintaijuutaku) - Residences for rent.
- 時期尚早 (Jikishousou) - Premature.
- 存在意義 (Sonzaiigi) - Reason for being, Reason for existing, reason for existence, sense of being.
- 四字熟語 (Yojijukugo) - A word made up of 4 ideograms.
- 年中無休 (Nenjuumukyuu) - Open all year round, never closed.
- 悪戦苦闘 (Akusenkutou) - A difficult and painful battle.
- 死活問題 (Shikatsumondai) - A matter of life and death.
- 一言半句 (Ichigonhanku) - A simple word, not a word.
- 天上天下 (Tenjoutenge) - The whole universe. Heaven and earth.
- 一網打尽 (Ichimoudajin) - Finish/Defeat/Capture them all at once.
- 疾風怒濤 (Shippuudotou) - Storms and violent waves.
- 以心伝心 (Ishindenshin) - Understanding something even without words, Telepathy, Tacit understanding.
- 先手必勝 (Sentehisshou) - Victory goes to the one who takes the first step.
- 異口同音 (Ikudouon) - In unison, In chorus, Unanimously, Unanimously.
- 一衣帯水 (Ichiitaisui) - Practically neighbors, very close.
- 一言居士 (Ichigenkoji) - Very critical person, person who always criticizes everything, Cri cri.
- 一石二鳥 (Issekinichou) - Killing two birds with one stone.
- 自問自答 (Jimonjitou) - Monologue, Talking to yourself, Soliloquy, Talking to yourself.
- 一致団結 (Icchidanketsu) - Solidarity, Being supportive of one another, Cooperating, Acting as a team towards a common goal.
- 喜怒哀楽 (Kidoairaku) - Human emotions (joy, anger, sadness and pleasure).
- 自画自賛 (Jigajisan) - Self-praise, self-acceptance, thinking you're the best, being egotistical.
- 十人十色 (Juunintoiro) - Several heads, Several opinions, Each one is each one, Each person has their own opinion/way. Literally: "10 colors, 10 people".
- 誠心誠意 (Seishinseii) - With all my heart, with all my sincerity.
- 諸行無常 (Shogyoumujou) - Everything passes, Nothing is permanent, Everything follows its flow.
- 起死回生 (Kishikaisei) - Unexpected recovery, Unexpected revival, Sudden recovery, Rising from the bottom.
- 起承転結 (Kishoutenketsu) - Introduction Development Twist Conclusion
- 弱肉強食 (Jakunikukyoushoku) - Law of the strongest, Law of the jungle, Survival of the fittest, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
- 古今東西 (Kokontouzai) - All times and places.
- 前代未聞 (Zendaimimon) - Unprecedented, Unheard of in history, Unparalleled in the history of the world.
- 危機一髪 (Kikiippatsu) - In the nick of time, at just the right moment, barely, by a hair's breadth.
- 針小棒大 (Shinshouboudai) - Exaggeration, Exaggerate, Storm in a glass of water, Increase.
- 八方美人 (Happoubijin) - A person who is nice to everyone (but deep down isn't), A fake person, A person who appears to like everyone.
- 三日坊主 (Mikkabouzu) - A person who can't do the same thing for a long time.
- 自業自得 (Jigoujitoku) - You reap what you sow, you get what you deserve.
- 指名手配 (Shimeitehai) - Wanted by the courts.
- 試行錯誤 (Shikousakugo) - Trial and error.
- 中途半端 (Chuutohanpa) - Half-finished, Incomplete, Made on my thighs.
- 民間伝承 (Minkandenshou) - Folklore.
- 単刀直入 (Tantouchokunyuu) - Franco, Na lata, Direto ao ponto, Há queim roupa.
- 青春時代 (Seishunjidai) - Time of Youth, Times of Youth, The Flower of Youth, The Years of Youth.
- 悪因悪果 (Akuinakka) - He who sows evil, reaps evil.
- 安全第一 (Anzendaiichi) - Safety first.
- 不撓不屈 (Futoufukutsu
- 唯唯諾諾 Iidakudaku) - Submissive, obedient.
- 東西南北 (Touzainanboku) - The cardinal points (east, west, south and north).
- 上下左右 (() - The four directions (up, down, left and right).
- 相互作用 (Sougosayou) - Interaction.
- 勧善懲悪 (Kanzenchouaku) - Poetic justice, rewarding good and punishing evil.
- 拒絶反応 (Kyozetsuhannou) - Reject completely, Disagree completely.
- 正当防衛 (Seitoubouei) - Legitimate defense.
- 切磋琢磨 (Sessatakuma) - Mutual encouragement. Constant effort (in studies), cultivating your own character by studying hard.
- 七転八起 (Shichitenhakki) - Fall down 7 times, get up 8 (represents the ups and downs of life and the need to always get over yourself even after a defeat).
- 天地無用 (Tenchimuyou) - Indicates that a box, package or parcel should not be handled upside down.
- 独立自尊 (Dokuritsujison) - Independence and self-confidence (respecting oneself).
- 和魂洋才 (Wakonyousai) - Japanese spirit with Western learning (meaning that something from the West should be incorporated while maintaining the Eastern spirit and tradition). A term commonly used by Japanese nationalists who feared modernization and the excessive influence of the West after the end of the country's isolation and in the post-Pacific War period.
- 天真爛漫 (Tenshinranman) - Naivety, Innocence, Simplicity.
- 二人三脚 (Nininsankyaku) - Teamwork, Working together towards the same goal. The term originally refers to a running sport in which two people walk/run together with their feet tied together.
- 年功序列 (Nenkoujoretsu) - Known as the "nenko system", in which an employee is promoted according to the time remaining before reaching retirement within a company. Seniority by length of service.
- 四捨五入 (Shishagonyuu) - Rounding off (a number). Rounding.
- 森羅万象 (Shinrabanshou) - Everything, all of nature, all of creation.
- 利害関係 (Rigaikankei) - Mutual interests, Interests, Stakeholders.
- 満場一致 (Manjouicchi) - Unanimity.
- 大義名分 (Taigimeibun) - Pretext, Justification, Reason.
- 二者択一 (Nishatakuitsu) - Choose between two alternatives. Two options.
- 既成事実 (Kiseijijitsu) - Fait accompli, Proven fact.
- 不言実行 (Fugenjikkou) - Doing instead of talking. Talk less and do more. Actions before words.
- 一喜一憂 (Ikkiichiyuu) - Oscillating between joy and worry.
- 言語道断 (Gongodoudan) - Absurd, Scandalous, Outrageous.
- 珍紛漢紛 (Chinpunkanpun) - Not understanding anything that's being said, nonsense, just nonsense, incomprehensible language.
- 気分転換 (Kibuntenkan) - Mood swings.
- 無我夢中 (Mugamuchuu) - Getting totally lost and acting unconsciously, being completely mentally dominated and acting without thinking.
- 馬耳東風 (Bajitoufuu) - Talking to no one, Talking to the wall (indicates total indifference on the part of the listener).
- 過小評価 (Kashouhyouka) - Underestimating something, undervaluing something.
- 粉骨砕身 (Funkotsusaishin) - Give the best of yourself.
- 意思疎通 (Ishisotsuu) - Understanding each other, Mutual understanding.
- 日進月歩 (Nisshingeppo) - Steady progress, rapid and constant advance.
- 再三再四 (Saisansaishi) - Repeatedly.
- 本末転倒 (Honmatsutentou) - Confusing the superfluous with the essential.
- 呉越同舟 (Goetsudoushuu) - When enemies unite for a task. Being in the same boat.
- 公序良俗 (Koujoryouzoku) - Social standards, Public order and morals, Values.
- 意識過剰 (Ishikikajou) - Pure imagination.
- 自暴自棄 (Jiboujiki) - Total despair.
- 臨機応変 (Rinkiouhen) - For the right purpose, For a specific purpose, Adapted to the needs of the moment.
- 四苦八苦 (Shikuhakku) - Enormous suffering. Buddhist word that refers to the 4 sufferings: old age, illness, death and love separation.
- 質実剛健 (Shitsujitsugouken) - Strong body and mind, Sincerity, Strong mind and body.
- 電光石火 (Denkousekka) - Extremely fast, In the blink of an eye, At the speed of light, In an instant.
- 最後通牒 (Saigotsuuchou) - Ultimatum (conditions and last demands of a country in a war, for example).
- 初志貫徹 (Shoshikantetsu) - Realize the initial intention/objective, Accomplish what was initially planned.
- 悠々自適 (Yuuyuujiteki) - Living peacefully and without worries (leisure with dignity).
- 三位一体 (Sanmiittai) - The Holy Trinity, Three Bodies.
- 清浄潔白 (Seijoukeppaku) - A pure heart and a clear conscience.
- 温故知新 (Onkochishin) - Developing ideas based on the past and tradition.
- 臥薪嘗胆 (Gashinshoutan) - Passing over sticks and stones to reach a goal, Suffering a lot to achieve something.
- 通過儀礼 (Tsuukagirei) - Rite of passage.
- 百鬼夜行 (Hyakkiyagyou) - A real pandemonium, lots of people plotting evil. It originally refers to something like "100 creatures walking down the street at night (playing terror)" in a kind of nocturnal parade.
- 新風満帆 (Shinpuumanpan) - "From strength to strength". Something (or someone) that is progressing in a totally favorable way. Something that is going well, favorably and steadily, like the wind dragging the boat's sail.
- 風林火山 (Fuurinkazan) - Literally it means "wind, forest, fire and mountain", but the meaning would be something like "swift as the wind, silent as a forest, bold as fire and immovable as a mountain". It refers to an ancient military strategy from the time of Miyamoto Musashi.
- 意気消沈 (Ikishouchin) - Deception, to be disappointed. Discouragement, getting discouraged about something.
- 四苦八苦 (Shikkuhakku) - Being distressed, being in a difficult situation, being in deep suffering. Literally: "the 4 and 8 types of suffering" (Buddhist concept).
If you want to learn more about what a Yojijukugo means, we recommend the video below:
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