When reading Chinese history books, I often come across four-character phrases like '事半功倍' and '画蛇添足'. They look very special.

You’ve discovered a treasure of Chinese — chengyu (idioms)! They are crystallized wisdom passed down from ancient times. For example, '事半功倍' is still used today to praise people who work with high efficiency.

So idioms are still used! What about '画蛇添足'? I find that story interesting, since snakes don’t have feet.

'画蛇添足' is now used to criticize people who do unnecessary things. For example, if your essay is already good and you add content that isn’t needed, I’d say you’re '画蛇添足'.

Haha, I get it! What about '朝三暮四'? I looked up the story — it’s about monkeys and acorns.

Great! But the meaning of '朝三暮四' has changed now. It mainly describes someone who keeps changing their mind, especially someone fickle in relationships. For example, liking one person today and another tomorrow.

Amazing! Ancient stories can express modern issues. Will learning idioms really make my Chinese more authentic?

Of course! Idioms are the essence of Chinese culture. Using them well shows a deep understanding of Chinese. Just make sure to use them in the right context to truly demonstrate your level.