Story library

Chengyu stories that lead back to usage

A story is useful only when it helps you choose the right modern sentence. Start here when you need the source image, then return to the full entry for examples, tone, wrong uses, and practice.

Start by how you plan to use the story

This keeps stories from becoming decorative background and makes them part of the dictionary workflow.

I need the story before using the phraseOpen a story page when the literal image is memorable but you still need the modern sentence boundary.
I am teaching a source-backed phraseUse the story only as far as it explains the judgment, then send students back to examples and misuse cases.
I want nearby phrases after the storyEach story page links back to its full entry and nearby chengyu so the story does not become a memorized anecdote.

All story pages

Rows are grouped by source type so you can separate older narrative sources from phrases that work mainly as story images.

Classical story paths

Story-image paths

How to move from story to usage

Treat the story as a boundary for meaning, not as the whole answer. After the background is clear, return to the entry and check whether the sentence object, tone, and timing match the modern use.