| Yoji-Jukugo (2) | |
|
Yoji-jukugo (four character kanji compounds) are idiomatic expressions made up of four kanji characters. Japanese is normally written with three types of scripts: kanji, hiragana and katakana, but these idiomatic words are written in kanji only and with no kana between them.
Yoji-jukugo contain classical wisdom or morals in short phrases. In English there are words that people use which make them sound intelligent or denote higher education. Japanese also has words that educated people are more likely to know. Yoji-jukugo are such words. There are hundreds of yoji-jukugo. Some of them are not even familiar to the Japanese, therefore they are often asked at a school entrance examination to test one's knowledge.
This is the second lesson of yoji-jukugo. Click here for other yoji-jikugo lessons. All of yoji-jukugo in this lesson include the kanji character for "one."
Click the link to hear the pronunciation.
Literally means, "one morning, one evening." A wider translation is, "in a day" or "in a short time." This expression is always followed by a negative clause.
| Kore wa icchou-isseki ni kaiketsu dekiru mondai dewa nai. これは一朝一夕に解決できる 問題ではない。 |
This is not a problem that can be solved overnight. |
Literally means "one long, one short." A wider translation is, "to have both merits and demerits."
| Kono keikaku wa doremo icchou-ittan ga aru. この計画はどれも一長一短がある。 |
Each of these plans has its merits and demerits. |
Literally means "one joy, one sorrow." A wider translation is, "to be glad and sad by turn."
| Sonna koto ni ikki-ichiyuu suru no wa imi ga nai. そんなことに一喜一憂 するのは意味がない。 |
There is no point in letting yourself be affected by such a thing. |
Literally means, "one moment, thousand gold." There is also a saying "Toki wa kane nari （時は金なり）," which translates to "Time is money."
| Anata ni aete ikkoku-senkin no toki o sugoseta. あなたに会えてて一刻千金の ときが過ごせた。 |
I had precious little time to see you. |
Literally means, "one forward, one back." A wider translation is, "back and forth" or "to fluctuate."
| Kare no byoujou wa isshin-ittai o kurikaeshiteiru. 彼の病状は一進一退を繰り返している。 |
Sometimes he gets a little better, but then he gets worse again. |
