Popular Four-Character Japanese Expressions
in Daily Conversations

Learning popular Japanese expressions are beneficial to you when visiting Japan. In the office or at school among peers, the following idioms are often heard and used in conversation. I will introduce you to some frequently used four-character Japanese expressions and how they are used in daily Japanese conversations.

Happou bijin (八方美人)

Happou means “eight directions” (north, east, south, west, northeast southeast, southwest, and northwest); bijin means “beauty”.

We call someone a happou bijin when they try to please everybody. It is not a compliment to be called a happou bijin as they are perceived as a two-faced person.

Example

鈴木さんは八方美人なので、信用できません。
Suzuki san wa happou bijin nanode, shinyou dekimasen.
Mr. Suzuki is happou bijin person so he cannot be trusted.

Dialogue

由美  :  田中さんはいつも優しいです。でもみんなに気に入られようとしているだけです。
Yumi : Tanaka san wa itsumo yasashii desu. Demo minna ni kini irareyou to shiteiru dake desu.
Yumi : Tanaka is always kind. But I think he is trying to be liked by everyone.

健太    :  確かに愛想がいいですね。
Kenta : Tashika ni aisou ga ii desu ne.
Kenta : He is indeed amiable.

由美   :  八方美人だと思います。
Yumi : Happou bijin dato omoi masu.
Yumi : I think he is happou bijin.

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Kuuki wo yomu (空気を読む)

Kuuki means “air” and yomu means “to read”. The English equivalent of this expression is “reading a situation”. It can also refer to knowing what to do and what not to do in a situation, a critical skill in industry and life in general.

Example

友達は空気を読むことができます。
Tomodachi wa kuuki wo yomu koto ga dekimasu.
My friend can read a situation.

Dialogue

里佳子 :   どうして あんなことを言って しまったの だろう。
Rikako :  Doushite anna koto wo itte shimatta no darou.
Rikako :  I don’t know why I said that.

太郎  :　ちゃんと空気を読まないとだめだよ。
Taro :    Chanto kuuki wo yomanai to dame dayo.
Taro :    You must understand the situation.

里佳子  :  でもみんなの意見に反対だったのでしょうがないです。
Rikako :  Demo minna no iken ni hantai datta node shouganai desu.
 Rikako :  But I couldn’t help opposing to everyone’s opinion.

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Yowatari jouzu (世渡り上手)　

Yowatari means “crossing society” and jouzu means “skilled”. A person is described as yowatari jouzu when they are street smart or know how to get what they want. They may have excellent communication skills, builds relationships easily, or have great social skills.

Example

弟は世渡り上手です。
Otouto wa yowatari jouzu desu.
My younger brother is yowatari jouzu.

Dialogue

慮    :   加藤さんはすごいですね。今日も 取引先と 交渉を成立させました。
Ryo :  Kato san wa sugoi desu ne.  Kyou mo torihikisaki to koushou wo seiritsu sase mashita.
Ryo :  Mr. Kato is amazing. He has negotiated a business with a client today again.

恵美 :   世渡り上手だといいですね。
Emi :   Yowatari jouzu dato ii desu ne.
Emi :   It’s good to be yowatari jouzu, isn’t it?

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Hanmen kyoushi (反面教師)

Hanmen kyoushi is one of the most commonly used expression in Japanese society. Hanmen means “opposite“ (in this context, the bad side) and kyoushi means “teacher” (sensei in conversation). So hanmen kyoushi means that you learn not to do something by looking at someone else’s undesired behaviors. The English equivalent is “learning from other’s mistakes”.

Example

私にとって 両親が反面教師です。
Watashi ni totte ryoushin ga hannmen kyoushi desu.
My parents are hanmen kyoushi for me.

*You can replace ryoushin with others such as senpai (seniors) and joushi (superiors).

Dialogue

武           :  彼の 言い方 は あまり 良くない と 思います。　どう思いますか？
Takeshi :  Kare no iikata wa amari yokunai to omoimasu.  Dou omoi masuka?
Takeshi :   I think his way of speaking is not very good. What do you think?

明子   :     私もそう 思います。あまり にも 傲慢 です。
Akiko :    Watashi mo sou omoi   masu.  Amari  nimo  gouman  desu.
Akiko :     I think so, too. That’s too arrogant.

武           :  それ は  ほとんどの人が思っているので 、反面教師としましょう。
Takeshi :  Sore wa  hotondono hito ga omotteiru node hanmen kyoushi to shima shou.
Takeshi :  Most people think of it, so let’s be hanmen kyoushi.

明子   :   そうですね。    同じにならないようにしましょう。
Akiko :  Sou desu ne. Onaji ni naranai youni shima shou.
Akiko :   I agree. Let’s not be the same.