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鬼斧神工
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鬼斧神工

鬼斧神工 — “Ghost's axe, divine craftsmanship”

鬼斧神工 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes superb craftsmanship or artistry that seems almost supernatural or divine, beyond human capabilities; uncanny workmanship”. Literally, “Ghost's axe, divine craftsmanship”.

Frequency

鬼斧神工 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • 鬼guǐ
  • 斧fǔ
  • 神shén
  • 工gōng

鬼斧神工 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
鬼
guǐ10ghost, devil, tricky, awful
斧
fǔ8axe or hatchet
神
shén10deity, spirit, mind, amazing
工
gōng3work, labor, industry, skill

Example Sentence with 鬼斧神工

这座古老的石桥,结构精巧,雕刻细致,真是鬼斧神工。
The intricate structure and delicate carvings of this ancient stone bridge are truly a marvel of uncanny workmanship.

Origin and Story of 鬼斧神工

In the ancient State of Lu, there lived a highly skilled carpenter named Zi Qing. He once carved a wooden bell stand (jù) that was so exquisitely shaped and intricately patterned that it captivated everyone.

People unanimously praised its beauty, believing it could not have been made by human hands, but rather by spirits or deities. The ruler of Lu was astonished by its perfection and asked Zi Qing how he created such a masterpiece.

Zi Qing explained that to achieve such a level of craftsmanship, he had to clear his mind, forget all distractions, and concentrate with utmost dedication on his work.

Idioms Related to 鬼斧神工

Synonyms of 鬼斧神工

  • qiǎo巧duó夺tiān天gōng工exquisitely skillful, surpassing nature
  • shén神gōng工guǐ鬼fǔ斧uncanny workmanship

Antonyms of 鬼斧神工

  • cū粗zhì制làn滥zào造produce in a rough and slipshod manner

More idioms starting with 鬼

  • guǐ鬼shǐ使shén神chāi差as if by a supernatural force
  • guǐ鬼chū出diàn电rù入swift and elusive change
  • guǐ鬼chū出shén神rù入appear and disappear mysteriously
  • guǐ鬼kè刻shén神chán劖supernaturally skillful artistic craftsmanship
  • guǐ鬼gōng功shén神lì力supernatural craftsmanship or divine skill
  • guǐ鬼zhà吒láng狼háo嚎ghostly shrieks and wolf howls
  • guǐ鬼chǎo吵guǐ鬼nào闹make a lot of noise and commotion
  • guǐ鬼zhà咤láng狼háo嚎ghosts wailing and wolves howling
  • guǐ鬼kū哭tiān天chóu愁ghosts wail and heaven sorrows
  • guǐ鬼kū哭láng狼hào号wail and howl like ghosts and wolves
  • guǐ鬼kū哭láng狼háo嗥ghosts crying and wolves howling
  • guǐ鬼kū哭láng狼háo嚎wail and howl mournfully

Questions about 鬼斧神工

What does 鬼斧神工 mean?
鬼斧神工 (guǐ fǔ shén gōng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes superb craftsmanship or artistry that seems almost supernatural or divine, beyond human capabilities; uncanny workmanship”.
How do you pronounce 鬼斧神工?
鬼斧神工 is pronounced guǐ fǔ shén gōng in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 鬼斧神工 literally mean?
Literally, 鬼斧神工 means “Ghost's axe, divine craftsmanship”. It is used to mean “describes superb craftsmanship or artistry that seems almost supernatural or divine, beyond human capabilities; uncanny workmanship”.
Where does 鬼斧神工 come from?
鬼斧神工 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 鬼斧神工?
象是鬼神制作出来的。形容艺术技巧高超,不是人力所能达到的。
Copy the pinyin for 鬼斧神工 →Choose tone marks or tone numbers and copy the complete four-character reading.Read Chinese vocabulary and idiom guides →Continue with words, phrases, and idioms explained through natural examples.

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