noun
idiom from Chinese history or classics
Refers to set phrases or proverbs originating from historical events or classical Chinese literature, often used in Japanese as four-character compounds.
「矛盾」は有名な故事成語だ。
"Mujun" (contradiction) is a famous idiom from Chinese history.
彼はスピーチで故事成語をよく使う。
He often uses classical Chinese idioms in his speeches.
From 故事 (historical event or classical story) + 成語 (set phrase). The term itself is a Japanese coinage referring to Chinese-derived idioms.