Idioms are the essence of language. Chinese, like any other language in the world, contains myriad of colorful and profound idioms.

But the expression cheng yu-idiom in pinyin may not have an exact equivalent in other language. The word "idiom" in current usage chiefly refers to "a set phrase". This predominant feature in English language, of course, can also be found in Chinesecheng yu. However, it forms only one of the latter's many specialities. Its definition in Chinese is much more complicated. Some people say it means shu yu(idiom, idomatic phrase), su yu(common saying, folk adage) and yan yuproverb, saying, adage, saw);others think that it should include yu yan(fable, allegory, parable), dian gu(allusion, literary quotation);and still others claim that it take in xi yu(catch word), ming yan(well-known saying,celebrated dictum, famous remark),ge yan(maxim, motto, aphorism), xie hou yu(the second part of a two-part allegorical saying that actually carries the message, though sometimes unstated), li yu(slang), fang yan(dialect), etc. Some people even assert that it not embody shu yu(techincal terms) and biao yu and kou hao(slogan, poster).

Furthermore, there is the question of national characteristics. Some believe that those expressions which originated from alien culture should not be considered Chinese cheng yu, for instance, some derived from Buddhism, and "armed to the teeth", "kill two birds with one stone", "use old bottles for new wine", 'a wolf in sheep's clothing" and "eye for eye" (which came from foreign language). Those who are opposed to this view argue that such expressions have become so commonly used that they can be regarded as part of Chinese cheng yu.

In comparing the definitions of the "idiom" in English and cheng yu in Chinese, we find that they are not exactly the same. The only element that is in common which is the foundamental is that they are more or less established by usage and accepted through practice. The Chinese cheng yu involves much more. It seems to bear more historical color, carries more literary allusions (including those from fables and legends) and is rendered more through analogy, whether metaphor or simile. For this reason, I use the word "idiom" for cheng yu.

In order to give you a clearer knowledge of cheng yu, I try to explain in its English equivalents. But one thing must be bore in mind that no equivalent will be exact perfectly, and there always a slight differential because the meaning might be either extended or change through the practice or evolution. Also, some cheng yu does not have its equivalent in English, so to seek them where there are none is a waste of effort. I have to do without it.

Before concluding, another point should be mentioned. it is about the issue of "repetition". In English, the repetition of a word, a phrase or an expression is generally not recommendable unless for rhetorical emphasis or forcefulness. But in Chinese, especially in classic Chinese, repetition is quite often employed, yet without giving the readers the feeling of redundancy or superfluity. So, in order to preserve the original style, the translator tries as much as possible to retain repetitions and at the same time to keep the plain succinct character of the Chinese language. To use too many variations or too much florid language at the expense of the beauty and simplicity on Chinese is not advisable.