Uki Uki Japanese Lesson 31 - Idioms 

Uki Uki Japanese Lesson 31 Idioms
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Today, we’re studying 四字熟語 (yoji jukugo): Japanese 4-character idioms.
四字熟語 can convey a lot. This is possible because each Kanji character has a meaning. That’s why Kanji phrases are succinct yet powerful.
Here are several 四字熟語 we’re introducing today.
one stone, two birds
一石二鳥 (isseki nichou) = to kill two birds with one stone
日本語を勉強したから、日本人の友達とも話せるし、アニメもわかるようになって一石二鳥です。
weak meat, strong eat
弱肉強食 (jakuniku kyoushoku) = survival of the fittest, cut-throat
金融ビジネスは、弱肉強食の世界だ。
old, present, east, west
古今東西 (kokon touzai) = universal, all time and places
古今東西、モーツアルトの音楽は人々に愛されている。
previous generation, not yet heard
前代未聞 (zendai mimon) = unheard-of, unprecedented
この時期に雪が降るなんて前代未聞だ。
dangerous chance, single hair
危機一髪 (kiki ippatsu) = by a hair’s breadth, touch and go, close call, critical moment
危機一髪の所で、ヒーローが現れた。
Some 四字熟語 gives advice.
first hand, definite victory
先手必勝 (sente hisshou) = victory goes to the one who makes the first move, the early bird gets the worm
今日の試合は、先手必勝で行くぞ！
one’s life, risk life
一生懸命 (isshou kenmei) = with utmost effort, with all your might
一生懸命がんばれば、きっと結果に繋がるよ。
And some 四字熟語 tells you what NOT to do.
needle small, stick large
針小棒大 (shinshou boudai) = exaggeration, to make a mountain out of a molehill
何でも針小棒大に言うのは悪い癖だ。
eight directions, pretty person
八方美人 (happou bijin) = a person who shows people what they want to see but not their true self
あの人は八方美人だから、あの人の約束はあまり当てにならない。
three day, monk apprentice
三日坊主 (mikka bouzu) = monk for three days, person who cannot stick to anything
何をやっても三日坊主なんです。I can’t stick to anything very long.
self portrait, self praise
自画自賛 (jiga jisan) = to sing one’s own praises
自画自賛はみっともない。
self action, self receive
自業自得 (jigou jitoku) = to pay for one’s mistakes, reap what you saw
博打ばかりして破産するなんて、自業自得だ。
This is a particularly beautiful 四字熟語:
one chance, one encounter
一期一会 (ichigo ichie) = once-in-a-lifetime encounter, hence should be cherished as such
人生は一期一会。人との出会いを大切にしましょう。
Music by Soichiro Migita
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