noun:

• longing for someone or something; waiting for someone of great talent to arrive; stretching one's neck and standing on tiptoes [literal] - four character idiom

noun:

• to think or act fairly without concern for one's own benefit - four character idiom

noun:

• one's fame or achievements being passed down eternally - four character idiom

noun / expression:

• three kinds of harmful friends: hypocritical, sycophantic, and glib-talking ones (Confucius) - four character idiom Antonym: 益者三友

noun:

• longing for freedom when tied down; caged bird's longing for the open sky [literal] - four character idiom

noun:

• ladies and gentlemen - four character idiom

noun / adjectival noun:

• wise and virtuous; good and able men - four character idiom

expression:

• taking an unexpected opportunity - idiom

expression / godan ~ぐ verb:

• to score points with (a person); to curry favor with (favour) - idiom ➜ 点数を稼ぐ【てんすうをかせぐ】

noun / ~の noun:

• selflessness; unselfishness - four character idiom

noun:

• miswriting a word; using the wrong kanji to write a word - four character idiom ➜ 魯魚の誤り【ろぎょのあやまり】

noun:

• honeyed words; flattery - four character idiom ➜ 甘言・蜜語

expression:

• two people arguing and not letting the other express their opinions - idiom

expression:

• two things that do not go well together; pairing kintsuba with loach soup [literal] - idiom ➜ 金鍔【きんつば】

noun:

• honeyed words; flattery - four character idiom ➜ 甘言蜜語【かんげんみつご】

noun:

• constantly changing phase and being highly unpredictable - four character idiom ➜ 一虚一実【いっきょいちじつ】

expression / godan ~る verb:

• to be (practically) deserted; to have no visitors; to set a sparrow net in front of the gate [literal] - idiom ➜ 門前雀羅【もんぜんじゃくら】

noun:

• locking the barn door after the horse has bolted; doing something too late; mending the pen after the sheep are lost [literal] - four character idiom

noun:

• miswriting a word; using the wrong kanji to write a word - four character idiom ➜ 魯魚の誤り【ろぎょのあやまり】

expression:

• to avenge a defeat; to regain one's honor - idiom

expression / ~する verb (irregular):

• to swallow (e.g. a story); to accept without questioning - idiom
• to swallow (food) whole; to gobble up; to gulp down

expression / noun:

• a swan among ducklings; a diamond among stones; a great figure among the common run of men - idiom

expression / noun:

• something that looks difficult but actually isn't; swimming in a cold lake during mid-winter seems difficult, but it's nothing to a kappa - idiom

expression / noun:

• having a happy and harmonious relationship (of a husband and wife) - idiom

noun:

• all of creation following their original natures, living and enjoying themselves freely; the kites fly and the fish leap [literal] - four character idiom - obscure term
• Heaven's will that all of creation shall follow their original natures and live freely - four character idiom - obscure term
• as a ruler's benevolence spreads, the people will find their places in the land based on their abilities - four character idiom - obscure term