Who are we fooling? It’s pretty darn impossible to master the Japanese language in a single (or multiple, if we’re being real) trip. But what we travelers CAN do is bust out a sophisticated phrase and impress some of the locals. When it comes to Japanese, you can conveniently do that in just four characters: Yoji Jukugo.
Yoji Jukugo, also known as “four-character idioms” or “four-character compounds,” are short phrases that are part of everyday vernacular. The four characters usually represent an entire story or folk tale, and are difficult to decipher at face value without context. But as a linguistic tool, they are no different than the idioms used by English-speakers on a daily basis, and most people will know what you mean when you say them.
Here are a few to get you started:
Literal Translation: “One time, one meeting”
Ichigo Ichie encourages one to treasure a moment, for it may never come again. It’s a poetic reminder that we can never recreate any particular time and space, even if we meet the same people in the same place, this moment is once in a lifetime and should be cherished. This phrase is frequently used when speaking about Japanese tea ceremonies and is the perfect thing to say when a host has gone out of their way to plan something special for you.
Literal translation: “Blue sky, white sun”
Seiten Hakujitsu signifies a clear situation and suggests that there is nothing hidden or concealed but rather clear and apparent. It can also be used to describe a heart without darkness, secrets, or doubts, the opposite of the lurking of any ulterior motive. Use this when you want to express 100% certainty.
Literal Translation: “Natural purity, bright and shining”
Tenshin Ranman describes someone who is cheerful and innocent in the sense that they are always their natural self, with no hint of pretense or putting on airs. Use this phrase to describe a friend who is authentically bright and refreshing to be around.
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Literal Translation: "One mind, one body"
Isshin doutai means that two or more people are so tightly bound together it’s as if their minds and bodies belong to one person. It can also be translated as two hearts beating as one. Use this to refer to your closest kindred spirits and connections.
—-So if you’re not a fan of grammar exercises or just don’t have the time to study prior to visiting Japan, no worries, we got your back. Get out there, use one of the above phrases mid-convo and blow a new buddy’s mind. There are-- without exaggeration-- thousands of idioms for all kinds of contexts. We hope you can find some that suit your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
