出神入化
chū shén rù huà
consummate; (of skill) reaching perfection
Character by character
出chū
beyond
beyond
神shén
divine
divine
入rù
into
into
化huà
sublime
sublime
Example
这位老师傅的刀工出神入化，一根萝卜在他手里转眼就变成了一朵花。
The old chef’s knife work is consummate: in his hands a radish turns into a flower in no time.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Said of skill and artistry at the very highest level: 技艺出神入化, 演得出神入化, 达到出神入化的境界. 神 is the marvellous and 化 the perfect state beyond which nothing can be improved. It praises the skill or the work, not the person: 他的书法出神入化, not ×他很出神入化.
Learn this in Lesson 239 · HSK 9+: 吴桥杂技 (The acrobats of Wuqiao)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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