起承転結

• Reading: きしょうてんけつ
• Romaji: kishoutenketsu
• Kanji breakdown: 起 (ki) — begin, introduce; 承 (shou) — receive, develop; 転 (ten) — turn, shift; 結 (ketsu) — conclude, tie together
• Pronunciation: /ki.ɕoː.teɴ.ke.tsɯ/

Meaning

Four-part structural framework for essays and stories: introduction, development, turn, conclusion. A classical rhetorical structure originating in Chinese poetry.

A yojijukugo (four-character compound) describing the canonical structure for organising prose or poetic argument in East Asian tradition. 起 (introduce the topic), 承 (develop it), 転 (introduce an unexpected shift or contrast), 結 (conclude and tie together). It is taught in Japanese schools as a compositional framework and remains a common analytical lens for literary criticism.

Examples

1. 作文の授業では、起承転結を意識した文章構成を学んだ。 In composition class, students learned to structure their writing using the four-part framework of introduction, development, turn, and conclusion.
2. この小説は起承転結が明快で、読者を物語に引き込む力がある。 This novel follows a clear four-part structure that draws the reader into the story.
3. 起承転結の構成に従えば、論理的でわかりやすい文章が書ける。 By following the introduction-development-turn-conclusion framework, one can write logically coherent and easy-to-understand prose.

Usage Guide

Context: composition, literary criticism, storytelling, education

Tone: educational

Origin & History

Borrowed from Classical Chinese poetics (qǐ-chéng-zhuǎn-hé). Originally applied to the four-line jueju poem form, it was later generalised in Japan to describe structural principles in prose composition and storytelling.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal