This is from an article describing the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, as reported by Mainichi Shimbun and many other media.

The fascination you get from this article differs depending on whether you know the meaning of “呉越同舟”which is composed of just four kanji characters, or not.

What exactly does it mean?

In the newspaper article, it says, ”As you can see, this situation—where people from multiple countries or regions, who are supposed to be competing against each other, ride the same boat and are introduced together—is reminiscent of 呉越同舟(Goetsu dōshū).” I assume you grasp the general meaning behind it. The four-character idiom is actually a traditional story-based idiom (故事成語) that encompasses intriguing anecdotes and lessons handed down through history.

In China, during the Spring and Autumn period, the states of Wu (呉国) and Yue (越国) were known as bitter rivals. However, it is said that even if they were enemies, if they were in the same boat during a storm, they would do their utmost to prevent the boat from sinking. 呉越同舟(Goetsu dōshū), a story originating from Sun Tzu’s Art of War (孫子兵法書), is used to describe a situation where multiple competing countries share a single boat, akin to the scene on the Seine River.

Among various proverbs and story-based idioms (故事成語), those with four kanji characters that are easier to remember are called 四字熟語 (yojijukugo), or “four-character idioms.” While idioms with two, three, or five characters do exist, those with four characters are more popular because they often encapsulate a lot of meaning in just four letters.

Most of these idioms come from Chinese classical texts. Japan imported characters from China, as it did not have its own writing system at the time. Over time, Japan developed its own written language using the latest technology and culture available during that period.

Until recently, we studied 漢文 (Chinese classical texts) in Japanese schools, and it was also a part of university entrance exams, much like how Western students study classical Greek or Latin texts.

Four-character idioms often describe the essence of human nature and serve as sharp aphorisms. They also reflect aspects of modern life. Understanding a sentence or someone’s story can differ depending on whether you know the idioms or not. Moreover, using them appropriately can have a significant impact, greatly enhancing the impression your words make on others.

In modern Japan, especially among younger generations, there is a preference for using katakana loanwords. Some may even be unfamiliar with the meanings and historical backgrounds of four-character idioms. Nonetheless, these kanji words that capture the essence of human existence are extremely important as a foundation of the Japanese language and as a reflection of a person’s cultural literacy. Here are some representative examples that are used frequently. I’ll show you their meanings and how to use them.

Recently, the prime minister of an Asian country has received very poor reviews, with declining support rates and criticism even from his own party. The newspaper reports that, amid all the criticism, the prime minister is in a situation akin to 四面楚歌 (shimen soka).

This originates from a famous episode in the Records of the Grand Historian (史記), specifically the Annals of Xiang Yu (項羽本紀). In the episode, Xiang Yu, who was being pursued by the Han army led by Liu Bang, heard a song from his own homeland, Chu, amidst the crowd of Han troops. This realization made him understand that his territory had already been occupied by the enemy, leading to his disappointment as he realized there were no allies left. It indicates that one is surrounded on all sides (四面) by enemies and opponents, with no allies left. This expression is commonly used in political situations to describe a state of complete opposition and isolation.

・In the classroom, there was no one who agreed with his opinion, and he was completely 四面楚歌.

・Even if he were 四面楚歌, he intends to keep trying.

It means you’re selling dog meat but advertising it as lamb. You create an appealing sign to attract customers, but what you’re actually selling is of poor quality. In other words, the appearance is good, but the substance is lacking. Words found in ancient Chinese texts such as the Annals of Master Yan (晏子春秋) and the Zen Buddhist text The Gateless Gate (無門関). These are regarded as good examples of a facade, which can occur in any era or country.

・That politician makes only 羊頭狗肉 promises and has not implemented any of them.

・There are many 羊頭狗肉 scam ads on the internet, so you need to be careful…

The Chinese classic Analects was written based on the teachings of Confucius (孔子), a philosopher from the Spring and Autumn period. It is widely read in Japan as well. The four-character idiom comes from the “Wei Zheng (為政)” chapter of his work. This means that if you master ancient history and, in addition, are knowledgeable about new things, you will be respected as a teacher. This serves as a lesson for those who cling solely to traditional ideas or constantly seek something new and unique, highlighting the importance of maintaining balance. It is often used in greetings at graduation and entrance ceremonies.

・Since ancient times, as the saying goes, ”温故知新”, it is necessary for people to continually study. 

The Analects is widely read, and like this example, it is a classic that is often cited in various contexts.”

A long time ago, there was a man who was a monkey trainer in China. One day, he ran out of money and decided to reduce the amount of food for his monkeys. He initially said, “I’ll feed you three chestnuts in the mornings and four in the evenings,” but this upset them. Instead, he changed it to “four chestnuts in the morning and three in the evening,” which made them happy. This is a story found in the works of ancient Chinese philosophers and Taoists, such as Liezi and Zhuangzi. It illustrates the idea of disguising something that makes no significant difference as if it were a major change. Even in modern times, we hear politicians use phrases like “taking it seriously” or “with all of my soul” to exaggerate minor details.　Another famous story involves a prime minister being asked in the National Diet whether he had eaten ご飯, which can mean either a meal or rice. He responded that he had not, despite having had breakfast, because he had eaten bread instead of rice.

・What the prime minister is saying is just like 朝三暮四 —isn’t it just a deception? 

There is a similar idiom, 朝令暮改, which refers to changing laws and orders recklessly, where what was decreed in the morning is altered by evening.

There was a soldier who ran 50 steps away from the war zone and laughed at the other soldiers who ran 100 steps, thinking himself brave for his shorter distance, despite being timid. Although there is a difference in the number of steps, it doesn’t change the fact that he also ran away without fighting back, indicating that fundamentally, they are the same.

This is an allegory found in the book Mencius (孟子), which compiles the sayings and deeds of ancient Chinese philosophers alongside Confucius. It was used to admonish a king who prided himself on his good governance, showing that he was not much different from the king of a neighboring country.

This is a classic example of a Chinese story from 2,000 years ago that remains relevant in modern Japanese.

・Your opinion is just 五十歩百歩 compared to that of an elementary school student. Don’t you have a more substantial opinion? 

This is used to criticize when the differences are minimal.

Let’s move on to the ones with two kanji letters. Although these are used in daily conversations, some Japanese people might not be aware that they originate from stories and have meanings behind them.

Humans are animals that often do unnecessary things without being thoughtful. I’ll introduce an interesting story from the Qi Ce Shang Pian (斉策上篇) in the book Records of the Warring States (戦国策), which is about strategists from the Warring States period in China, 2,000 years ago. 

A long time ago, in the Chinese state of Chu, the ruler served alcohol, but there wasn’t enough for everyone to drink. They came up with a game where whoever drew a snake first would win the alcohol. One man, feeling overly proud of his early drawing, added legs to his snake to show off. However, since no snake has legs, his drawing was disqualified, and he lost. Instead, the person who drew the snake second received the alcohol. Since then, doing something unnecessary or superfluous, or adding extra details, has been referred to as “蛇足” (snake legs).

・Your comment is 蛇足. 

Additionally, it is used when adding extra comments after a statement in meetings, as in ”Although it is 蛇足……” or “Just a further point…”

At the end of the Warring States period in China, there was a state called Han. In their royal family, there was a philosopher named Han Fei (韓非), who was poisoned by the first emperor of Qin. The term 矛盾 (contradiction) originated from a story in the Nan Yi Pian (難一篇) chapter of his book Han Feizi (韓非子).

A long time ago, there was a merchant who sold weapons in the state of Chu. He claimed, “This spear can penetrate any shield,” and at the same time, he also advertised, “This shield can withstand any spear.” When a customer asked, “What happens if you use the spear to penetrate the shield?” the merchant was unable to answer. This is used to describe a situation where two claims do not match up or are logically inconsistent.

・ Your statements and actions are 矛盾 (contradictory).

Besides these, there are many commonly used two-character, three-character, and four-character idioms in Japanese, such as 以心伝心 (telepathy), 苦肉之策 (a desperate measure), 画竜点睛 (the finishing touch), 是是非非 (right and wrong), 疑心暗鬼 (suspicion and paranoia), 孟母三遷 (Mencius’ mother moved three times), 完璧 (perfection), and 指南 (guidance), among others. There are so many that they cannot all be introduced here. We use not only a variety of textbooks to learn Japanese but also incorporate Japanese words that originate from Chinese at our school. Come and immerse yourself in the rich and fascinating world of Japanese at TCJ, where you can explore the depth and beauty of the language with us!

【References】

Matsumura, Akira, ed. Daijirin. Sanseido.

Kamata, Tadashi, and Yoneyama, Torao. Kanbun Meigen Jiten. Taishukan Publishing.