Talk:Yojijukugo
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[edit] Four-character slogans
The term 四字熟語 seems to apply only to constructs that are idiomatic in nature, i.e. constructs whose meaning is not readily evident from their composite kanji. But four-character compounds also feature fairly prominent in history (particularly Meiji history) as slogans or concepts, and I wonder if compounds like these, whose meaning is directly inferable from the separate kanji can be called 四字熟語 or if there is another specific term which applies to them.
Some examples of what I'm talking about:
- 文明開化 bunmei kaika, "civilization and enlightenment"
- 富国強兵, fukoku kyouhei, "rich country, strong army"
- 内憂外患, naiyuu gaikan, "troubles within, threats from without"
- 尊王攘夷, sonnou joui, "revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians"
- 和魂洋才, wakon yousai, "Japanese spirit, Western learning"
- 王政復古, ousei fukko, "Restoration of Imperial rule
- 明治維新, meiji ishin, "Meiji Restoration" or "Enlightened rule, bringing threads together to make something new"
- 殖産興業, shokusan kougyou, "increase production, promote industry"
Four-character compositions are also considered in Japanese (and likely Chinese too) to be poetic and evocative of classical tradition, but these are generally seen simply as fragments (verses) of poetry, not as set phrases, idioms or slogans. Does this concept of the poetic four-character composition have a name? Thanks. LordAmeth 17:27, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
