典故

diǎngù
  1. classical story or quote from the literature
  2. the story behind sth

CEDICT

classical allusion

Wiktionary

有出處、依據的故事典例。

重編國語辭典

  1. 典制和掌故
  2. 有出處、依據的故事和詞語。

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 典 diǎn
  1. canon
  2. law
  3. standard work of scholarship
  4. literary quotation or allusion
  5. ceremony
  6. to be in charge of
  7. to mortgage or pawn
2 故 gù
  1. happening
  2. instance
  3. reason
  4. cause
  5. intentional
  6. former
  7. old
  8. friend
  9. therefore
  10. hence
  11. (of people) to die, dead

Containing this entry

成語典故 chéngyǔdiǎngù historical or literary anecdote that gives rise to a saying