The Chinese Library Series Chinese idioms are set phrases which normally consist of four characters. They have evolved over thousands of years and make the Chinese language richer and more colourful. Most Chinese idioms originate from myths, fables and historical events. As a result, they do not conform to modern Chinese grammatical structure or syntax; normally they are very concise and abbreviated. They aim to convey the moral behind the story instead of narrating the story itself. A Chinese idiom story will not only tell you the meaning of a phrase, but will also help you to learn more about Chinese culture. The example sentences in this book show how idioms are used in context. Have fun!