匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
to show great originality and ingenuity (in a work of art or craft)
Character by character
匠jiàng
craftsman’s
craftsman’s
心xīn
mind
mind
独dú
alone
alone
运yùn
apply
apply
Example
这座园林的设计匠心独运，每走几步都能看到不一样的风景。
The design of this garden is wonderfully inventive: every few steps bring a different view.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Written and admiring, for designs, buildings, gardens, writing and handicrafts: 匠心独运的设计／构思. 运 means “to apply”: the maker applies a mind all their own. Close to 独具匠心 (lesson 3-12), which stresses that the idea is unique; 匠心独运 stresses the skill of carrying it out.
Learn this in Lesson 183 · HSK 7–9: 大国工匠 (Master craftsmen)
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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