典故

diǎngù

noun #25,672

Measure Word

一个典故 gè

Meanings

1 literary or historical allusion
2 classical reference
3 story behind an expression

Characters

classic; standard work; ceremony

old; former; cause; reason

Examples

HSK 2

老师给我们讲了这个词的典故。

Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen jiǎng le zhège cí de diǎngù.

The teacher told us the story behind this word.

HSK 5

这句成语有一个有趣的典故。

Zhè jù chéngyǔ yǒu yī gè yǒuqù de diǎngù.

This idiom has an interesting classical allusion behind it.

Tips

usage

Chinese literature is dense with 典故. Many four-character idioms (成语) are themselves condensed 典故 from ancient texts or histories.

Stroke Order

典 diǎn

故 gù