汉语成语是一个原型范畴。范畴的边界是模糊的,范畴内成语有典型与非典型之分。典型的汉语成语应该同时具备以下四个原型特征:四字格、整合意义、所构成语素古朴典雅、具有历史渊源并长期习用的语词。而具备原型特征越少的成语就越不典型,离典型成语的距离就越远,也就是说逐渐趋向于其它类型的语词。 Chinese idioms are a prototype category. The boundaries of categories are vague, and the categories of idioms are typical and non-typical. Typical Chinese idioms should have the following four archetypal features at the same time: four-character lattice, integration meaning, simple and elegant morpheme formed, historical words and long-term words. The less idiom with the prototype features, the less typical, the farther away from the typical idioms, that is to say, gradually tend to other types of terms.