#3　Meaning of Four-Character Idioms

因果応報    Inga Ōhō    The principle that good deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished; Karma; Retribution; You reap what you sow.

一期一会    Ichigo Ichie    A once-in-a-lifetime encounter; The principle of treasuring every meeting as it will never happen again in the same way.

諸行無常    Shogyō Mujō    All worldly things are transient; The Buddhist concept that everything in the world is constantly changing and nothing remains the same.

喜怒哀楽    Kido Airaku    Human emotions (Joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure).

明鏡止水    Meikyō Shisui    A clear and serene state of mind; A mind without wicked thoughts, as clear as a polished mirror and as still as water.

色即是空    Shiki Soku Ze Kū    Form is emptiness; The Buddhist concept that all things having form in this world are ultimately without substance and are "emptiness" (kū).

有為転変    Ui Tenpen    Vicissitudes of life; Constant changes and transitions of all things in the world.

花鳥風月    Kachō Fūgetsu    The beauties of nature (Flowers, birds, wind, and moon); Nature's scenery, and the aesthetic sense of appreciating them.

風光明媚    Fūkō Meibi    Scenic beauty; A view that is clean, beautiful, and picturesque.

雪月花    Setsugetsu Ka    Beautiful natural scenery representing the four seasons of Japan (Snow, moon, and flowers/cherry blossoms).

春夏秋冬    Shunka Shūtō    The four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter).

行雲流水    Kōun Ryūsui    Living naturally without being confined to one place, like floating clouds or flowing water.

心頭滅却    Shintō Mekkyaku    Emptying one's mind of all worldly thoughts and attaining a state of nothingness or perfect serenity.

臥薪嘗胆    Gashin Shōtan    Enduring all hardships in order to achieve an objective; To sleep on faggots and lick gall.

無念無想    Munen Musō    A state of mind free from all worldly thoughts and reflection; The state of perfect serenity or selflessness.

不撓不屈    Futō Fukutsu    Indomitable spirit; Never being discouraged by any difficulty or hardship.

泰然自若    Taizen Jijaku    Composed and unperturbed; Remaining calm and dignified regardless of the circumstances.

幽玄淡麗    Yūgen Tanrei    Profoundly deep, subtle, and beautifully understated (often used for art or beauty).

百花繚乱    Hyakka Ryōran    A hundred flowers blooming in profusion; Metaphorically, a host of talented individuals appearing all at once.

天衣無縫    Ten'i Muhō    Flawless and natural beauty; Artless and innocent.

不言実行    Fugen Jikkō    Actions speak louder than words; Doing what needs to be done without much talk.

画竜点睛    Garyō Tensei    The final, crucial finishing touch; The most important part of a matter.