故事成語

• Reading: こじせいご
• Romaji: kojiseigo
• Kanji breakdown: 故 (ko) — old, past; 事 (ji) — matter, event; 成 (sei) — become, established; 語 (go) — expression, word
• Pronunciation: /ko.dʑi.seː.ɡo/

Meaning

Idiom derived from a historical anecdote. A set expression whose meaning originates in a classical Chinese or Japanese historical story.

A compound noun for the category of expressions that trace their meaning to a specific historical episode, typically from classical Chinese literature (漢籍). Examples include 矛盾 (contradiction, from a parable about a spear and shield), 臥薪嘗胆 (perseverance through hardship), and 蛍雪の功 (achievement through diligent study under hardship). Knowledge of 故事成語 is expected at the N1 level and in professional Japanese writing.

Examples

1. 矛盾という言葉は中国の古典に由来する故事成語の一つだ。 The word 'mujun' (contradiction) is one of the idioms derived from a classical Chinese story.
2. 日本語には漢籍から取り入れられた故事成語が数多く存在している。 There are numerous idioms in Japanese that were adopted from Chinese classical texts.
3. 故事成語の背景にある物語を知ると、その言葉の重みが格段に増す。 When you learn the story behind an idiom, the weight of that expression increases dramatically.

Usage Guide

Context: classical Chinese, literature, education, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 故事 (koji, historical anecdote/precedent) and 成語 (seigo, established expression/set phrase). The term itself describes its own nature: a fixed expression (成語) that has grown out of (成) a historical story (故事).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated