Common Japanese idioms and four-character yojijukugo compounds with their literal characters and figurative meaning. Front: the Japanese word or phrase (romaji romanization in parentheses). Back: English meaning.
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- 一期一会 (ichigo ichie)
- One time, one meeting; treasure each encounter as unique
- 四面楚歌 (shimensouka)
- Surrounded by enemies on all sides; completely isolated and threatened
- 一寸先は闇 (issun saki wa yami)
- An inch ahead is darkness; the future is unpredictable
- 七転び八起き (nana korobi ya oki)
- Fall seven times, stand up eight times; perseverance through adversity
- 花鳥風月 (kacho fugetsu)
- Flowers, birds, wind, moon; the beauty of nature and the four seasons
- 馬耳東風 (baji toufuu)
- Horse ears and east wind; indifference to others' words, in one ear and out the other
- 蛙の子は蛙 (kaeru no ko wa kaeru)
- A frog's child is a frog; like parent, like child
- 井の中の蛙 (i no naka no kaeru)
- A frog in a well; a person with limited perspective and narrow worldview
- 犬も歩けば棒に当たる (inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru)
- Even a dog walking around bumps into a stick; good luck comes with effort
- 猫に小判 (neko ni koban)
- Casting pearls before swine; giving something valuable to someone who cannot appreciate it
- 虎の子 (tora no ko)
- Tiger's child; a treasured possession or beloved child
- 竜頭蛇尾 (ryutou datsubi)
- Dragon head, snake tail; starting with great promise but ending weakly
- 亀の甲より年の劫 (kame no kou yori toshi no kou)
- More valuable than a tortoise's shell is the wisdom of age
- 獅子身中の虫 (shishi shinchu no mushi)
- A worm in a lion's body; a traitor or enemy within one's own organization
- 鶴は千年亀は万年 (tsuru wa sennen kame wa mannen)
- Cranes live a thousand years, tortoises ten thousand; symbols of longevity and good fortune