A translation of the Japanese Wikipedia page on Yojijyukugo (four-kanji compounds)

13 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment

by thebaboose in Japan - Language

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter3060/2050494752/

Here’s a link to another post I did on Yojijyukugo.

I recommend checking out the link for Wikipedia’s page (English version) on Yojijyukugo. After translating the Japanese page, I realized the English page is much better. Anyhow, if you want to get another perspective on it, you are welcome to read my translation.

Yojijyukugo refers to Japanese idioms formed from four-kanji compounds.

In the Chinese language, most of the yojijyukugo are constructed from a type of idiom called seigo. And most seigo are created from traditions and Chinese classical literature. In the case where there is a background story or reason, a lot of information can be conveyed – compared with the amount of characters used.  Yojijyukugo also helps writers to convey their thoughts to others with the same knowledge, and when used properly, can make an educational point easy to understand. Finally, with yojijyukugo, an author can compose a sentence with a deep meaning with only one four-kanji compound (for example: bitter enemies – placed by fate – in the same boat).

Regardless of the expression, there are two types of yojijyukugo: one in which the word derives its meaning from the combination of 4 Kanji characters, each symbolic of the what the compound expresses. For example, Jyakuniku Kyoushoku – weak + meat + strong + eat. Refers to “the weak become meat and the strong eat.” And the second type consists of the combination of two two-character Chinese words (Seizonkyousou – existence + battle = the struggle for existence). In both types, it is safe to say that each individual Chinese character has a unique meaning in itself. However, in the yojijyukugo created by the Japanese there is one word 見敵必滅 (see + enemy + certainly/at all costs + annihilate), which translates to “If you see an enemy, annihilate them at all costs.” In Chinese, it translates to “If you see an enemy, you will definitely be destroyed or seeing your enemy is a definite sign of your ruin.” And there are other examples where the Japanese and Chinese interpretations completely differ.

However, in the yojijyukugo created by the Japanese there is one word 見敵必滅 (see + enemy + certainly/at all costs + annihilate), which translates to “If you see an enemy, annihilate them at all costs.” In Chinese, it translates to “If you see an enemy, you will definitely be destroyed or seeing your enemy is a definite sign of your ruin.” And there are other examples where the Japanese and Chinese interpretations completely differ.

Knowing these well is seen as a sure way of showing one’s refinement. For this reason, yojijyukugo appears on many types of common knowledge tests and appears from level 5 to 1 of the Kanji Kentei (A test taken to test one’s knowledge of Kanji). On the contrary, not knowing your yojijyukugo is a reason for becoming a target of ridicule. An example of this is the bakachara (Stupid characters: celebrities known for being not intelligent. Paris Hilton would be considered a bakachara), when they are laughed at for making a mistake on a yojijyukugo question.