Most Chinese idioms (96%) are character idioms.  Chinese four-character idioms ( 四字成語, si-zi cheng-yu) are typically four characters that together express a figurative meaning. They have been woven together over thousands of years from ancieour nt myths, tales, philosophical texts, and poetry. Many represent longer stories that are condensed into succinct characters to depict a part of the narrative. Chinese 4 character idiom ( 四字成語, si-zi cheng-yu) is usually organized with two group meanings. The first 2 characters together have a meaning, while the third and forth together have a different meaning.  There are also idioms with three characters, five characters, six characters, and seven characters.