num_pages: 160
description: When we were searching in the dark (anchu-mosaku), at a total loss what to call our book, we suddenly hit upon "A Guide to Japanese Four-Letter Words" Pithy, punchy, in your face. Unfortunately, also rather misleading. From yoji-jukugo to four-character compounds to four-letter words. Not a journey of a million miles, but our editors didn't see it that way. "What's wrong with a little harmless sheep's head but dog meat yoto-kuniku; (false advertising)?" we asked, but it was like the east wind blowing into a horse's ear (baji-tofu!). They just didn't want to know. So what are these yoji-jukugo? Yoji-jukugo (or four-character compounds, as we often call them in this book) are words/expressions made up of four kanji joined together with no kana in between.... Use them correctly in your everyday conversation and you will blow your Japanese friends out of the water. Seeing the LDP climb into bed with their old foe, the Socialists, in a desperate attempt to hold onto power, all you need say is "It's the Go and the Etsu in the same boat, isn't it?" Your Japanese friends will be stunned that you have even heard of the Go and the Etsu, let alone know that they are synonymous for sworn enemies who by a trick of fate find themselves thrown together, having to cooperate with each other to survive.
language: English
title: Kanji Idioms
titlecomplete: Kanji Idioms (Power Japanese)
ratings_count: 3
publisher: Kodansha USA Inc