Four-Character Idiom Dictionary
A hundred sajaseong-eo with meaning, origin and how they are actually used
📖 Each character is glossed so you can see how four of them make one meaning.
Conduct & Attitude18
有備無患Yu-bi-mu-hwanIf you prepare in advance, there is nothing to worry about.易地思之Yeok-ji-sa-jiThink about it after swapping places with the other person.初志一貫Cho-ji-il-gwanCarry the resolve you started with all the way through, unchanged.名不虛傳Myeong-bul-heo-jeonThe reputation was not passed on in vain — it lives up to the name.靑出於藍Cheong-chul-eo-ramThe blue drawn from the indigo plant is bluer than the plant — the student surpasses the teacher.大器晩成Dae-gi-man-seongA great vessel takes long to finish — those destined for greatness succeed late.溫故知新On-go-ji-sinStudy the old to understand the new.修身齊家Su-sin-je-gaCultivate yourself and put your household in order.安分知足An-bun-ji-jokKeep to your station and know contentment.過猶不及Gwa-yu-bul-geupGoing too far is no better than falling short.明鏡止水Myeong-gyeong-ji-suA mind as clear as a bright mirror and still water.泰然自若Tae-yeon-ja-jakComposed and unchanged even facing something momentous.一石二鳥Il-seog-i-joTwo birds with one stone — two gains from a single act.苦盡甘來Go-jin-gam-naeWhen the bitter ends, the sweet arrives — hardship gives way to better days.言行一致Eon-haeng-il-chiWords and deeds in agreement.積小成大Jeok-so-seong-daeAccumulate the small and you build the large.見物生心Gyeon-mul-saeng-simSee the thing and the wanting begins.明哲保身Myeong-cheol-bo-sinUnderstand clearly and thereby keep yourself safe.
Effort & Endurance17
愚公移山U-gong-i-sanOld Man Yu moves the mountain — persistence accomplishes anything.磨斧作針Ma-bu-jak-chimGrind an axe into a needle — dogged effort achieves even the impossible.螢雪之功Hyeong-seol-ji-gongMerit earned reading by fireflies and snow-light — study achieved in hardship.切齒腐心Jeol-chi-bu-simGrinding your teeth and letting your heart rot — nursing a grievance.臥薪嘗膽Wa-sin-sang-damSleep on firewood and taste gall — endure any hardship to settle a score.百折不屈Baek-jeol-bul-gulBroken a hundred times and still unbent.七顚八起Chil-jeon-pal-giFall seven times, rise eight.晝耕夜讀Ju-gyeong-ya-dokPlough by day and read by night — studying on despite hardship.日就月將Il-chwi-wol-jangAdvancing by the day and growing by the month — improving fast.十伐之木Sip-beol-ji-mokNo tree stands after ten swings of the axe.積土成山Jeok-to-seong-sanPile up earth and you make a mountain.走馬加鞭Ju-ma-ga-pyeonWhip the horse that is already running — push the one already doing well.手不釋卷Su-bul-seok-gwonNever letting the book leave your hand.刻苦勉勵Gak-go-myeol-lyeoBear the hardship and drive yourself on.自强不息Ja-gang-bul-sikStrengthen yourself and never rest.有志竟成Yu-ji-gyeong-seongWhere there is will, it is accomplished in the end.切磋琢磨Jeol-cha-tak-maCut, file, chisel and polish — refine learning and character without cease.
People & Bonds17
管鮑之交Gwan-po-ji-gyoThe friendship of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya — friends who truly know each other.竹馬故友Juk-ma-go-uAn old friend from bamboo-horse days — someone you grew up with.百年偕老Baeng-nyeon-hae-roGrowing old together for a hundred years.同苦同樂Dong-go-dong-nakSharing the hardship and the joy alike.人之常情In-ji-sang-jeongThe ordinary feeling any human being would have.類類相從Yu-yu-sang-jongLike follows like — similar people gather together.結草報恩Gyeol-cho-bo-eunTie the grass to repay a kindness — gratitude that outlasts death.背恩忘德Bae-eun-mang-deokTurning your back on kindness and forgetting the good done to you.糟糠之妻Jo-gang-ji-cheoThe wife who shared the dregs and chaff — a spouse who endured poverty with you.莫上莫下Mak-sang-mak-haNeither above nor below — evenly matched.難兄難弟Nan-hyeong-nan-jeHard to say which is the elder brother — both are outstanding.泰山北斗Tae-san-buk-duMount Tai and the Northern Dipper — a towering figure in a field.群鷄一鶴Gun-gye-il-hakOne crane among the chickens — the standout in a crowd.呉越同舟O-wol-dong-juWu and Yue in the same boat — enemies forced to share a situation.同床異夢Dong-sang-i-mongSame bed, different dreams — together in place but not in intent.肝膽相照Gan-dam-sang-joLiver and gall lit up to each other — friendship with nothing held back.水魚之交Su-eo-ji-gyoThe bond of water and fish — a tie that cannot be undone.
Situations18
四面楚歌Sa-myeon-cho-gaChu songs on all four sides — surrounded with nowhere to turn.進退兩難Jin-toe-yang-nanHard to advance and hard to retreat.累卵之危Nu-ran-ji-wiAs precarious as a stack of eggs.風前燈火Pung-jeon-deung-hwaA lamp flame before the wind — an extremely precarious state.五里霧中O-ri-mu-jungInside a fog five li deep — completely unable to make sense of things.雪上加霜Seol-sang-ga-sangFrost on top of snow — one misfortune stacked on another.轉禍爲福Jeon-hwa-wi-bokDisaster turned into good fortune.塞翁之馬Sae-ong-ji-maThe old frontiersman’s horse — fortune and misfortune cannot be predicted.一觸卽發Il-chok-jeuk-balOne touch and it goes off — an extremely volatile state.焦眉之急Cho-mi-ji-geupUrgent enough to singe your eyebrows.百尺竿頭Baek-cheok-gan-duAt the tip of a hundred-foot pole — a position of extreme peril.命在頃刻Myeong-jae-gyeong-gakLife hanging on a single moment.束手無策Sok-su-mu-chaekHands tied and no plan left.騎虎之勢Gi-ho-ji-seRiding a tiger — you cannot get off part-way.錦上添花Geum-sang-cheom-hwaAdding flowers to brocade — good on top of good.漁父之利Eo-bu-ji-riThe fisherman’s gain — a third party profits while two fight.鷄卵有骨Gye-ran-yu-golEven the egg has a bone — for the unlucky, everything snags.走馬看山Ju-ma-gan-sanViewing the hills from a galloping horse — a glance, not a look.
Learning & Wisdom16
刮目相對Gwal-mok-sang-daeRub your eyes and look again — someone’s ability has grown astonishingly.敎學相長Gyo-hak-sang-jangTeaching and learning grow each other.多多益善Da-da-ik-seonThe more, the better.聞一知十Mun-il-ji-sipHear one thing and know ten — exceptional quickness of mind.格物致知Gyeong-mul-chi-jiInvestigate things to reach knowledge.學而時習Hak-i-si-seupLearn, and practise it in due time.不恥下問Bul-chi-ha-munNot ashamed to ask those below you.深思熟考Sim-sa-suk-goThink deeply and weigh it thoroughly.讀書三昧Dok-seo-sam-maeSo absorbed in a book that everything else falls away.開卷有益Gae-gwon-yu-ikOpen a book and there is gain in it.博學多識Bak-hak-da-sikWidely learned and knowing much.一以貫之I-i-gwan-jiThreading the whole through with a single principle.知行合一Ji-haeng-hab-ilKnowing and doing are one.讀書百遍Dok-seo-baek-pyeonRead it a hundred times and the meaning reveals itself.博覽强記Ba-ram-gang-giReads widely and remembers well.靑雲之志Cheong-un-ji-jiThe ambition to rise to the blue clouds — high aspiration.
Words & Speech14
言中有骨Eon-jung-yu-golThere is bone inside the words — a hard meaning hidden in an ordinary remark.寸鐵殺人Chon-cheol-sa-rinKill with an inch of steel — pierce the vital point with a few words.以心傳心I-sim-jeon-simMind transmits to mind — understanding without a word spoken.甘言利說Gam-eon-i-seolSweet words and seemingly advantageous talk — the language of enticement.有口無言Yu-gu-mu-eonYou have a mouth but nothing to say.一言之下Il-eon-ji-haSettled in a single word — a flat, immediate response.語不成說Eo-bul-seong-seolThe words do not add up to a statement — it makes no sense.甲論乙駁Gap-ron-eul-bakA argues, B refutes — a back-and-forth dispute.橫說竪說Hoeng-seol-su-seolTalking across and up and down — rambling without thread.一言半句Il-eon-ban-guA word and half a phrase — even the smallest utterance.巧言令色Gyo-eon-yeong-saekPolished words and an arranged face, put on to win favour.名實相符Myeong-sil-sang-buName and reality matching each other.附和雷同Bu-hwa-noe-dongFalling in with others and echoing them like thunder.言語道斷Eon-eo-do-danWhere words run out — in Korean use, utterly unreasonable.
The idioms used in Korea mix phrases from the Chinese classics with ones coined in Korea. Where an expression is not used in China, the entry says so.