行云流水 — “Moving clouds and flowing water”
行云流水 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describing a style, particularly in writing, art, or performance, that is natural, smooth, flowing, and unrestrained; characterized by ease, grace, and effortless skill, like moving clouds and flowing water”. Literally, “Moving clouds and flowing water”.
行云流水 Pronunciation and Pinyin
行云流水 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 行云流水
Origin and Story of 行云流水
Su Shi initially learned essay writing from his father, Su Xun. Later, benefiting from his natural talent and diligent study, his literary works became exceptionally outstanding and unrivaled. He often remarked, "Essay writing is like moving clouds and flowing water, without fixed formats or rigid rules. It flows where it ought to flow and pauses where it cannot proceed."
The 'History of Song' commended his essays for their natural logic and prose, stating that even his playful or indignant expressions were skillfully composed and worthy of recitation. His literary style was characterized by its grandeur and magnificence, subtly sharp, yet clear, smooth, fresh, and uninhibited.
He, his father Su Xun, and his younger brother Su Zhe, were collectively known as 'The Three Sus,' and all were listed among the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties.'
Idioms Related to 行云流水
Synonyms of 行云流水
More idioms starting with 行
- xíng行xià下chūn春fēng风wàng望xià夏yǔ雨Do good expecting reward
- xíng行bù不cóng从jìng径take a shortcut or deviate from the proper path
- xíng行bù不fù副yán言actions do not match words
- xíng行bù不jí及yán言actions do not match words
- xíng行bù不lǚ履wēi危avoid dangerous situations
- xíng行bù不dé得yě也gē哥gē哥cannot proceed, brother
- xíng行bù不kuì愧yǐng影，，qǐn寝bù不kuì愧qīn衾have a clear conscience day and night
- xíng行bù不gēng更míng名，，zuò坐bù不gǎi改xìng姓open and straightforward about identity and actions
- xíng行bù不yóu由jìng径always act honestly and uprightly
- xíng行bù不yóu由xī西zhōu州lù路Mourn a deceased friend, avoid old places
- xíng行bù不zhī知wǎng往drift aimlessly without knowing where to go
- xíng行bù不shèng胜yī衣too weak to bear one's own clothes
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Open the tool →Questions about 行云流水
What does 行云流水 mean?
行云流水 (xíng yún liú shuǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describing a style, particularly in writing, art, or performance, that is natural, smooth, flowing, and unrestrained; characterized by ease, grace, and effortless skill, like moving clouds and flowing water”.
How do you pronounce 行云流水?
行云流水 is pronounced xíng yún liú shuǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 行云流水 literally mean?
Literally, 行云流水 means “Moving clouds and flowing water”. It is used to mean “describing a style, particularly in writing, art, or performance, that is natural, smooth, flowing, and unrestrained; characterized by ease, grace, and effortless skill, like moving clouds and flowing water”.
Where does 行云流水 come from?
行云流水 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 行云流水?
形容文章自然不受约束，就象漂浮着的云和流动着的水一样。