行云流水
xíng yún liú shuǐ
natural and flowing; effortless
Character by character
行xíng
moving
moving
云yún
clouds
clouds
流liú
flowing
flowing
水shuǐ
water
water
Example
这位老演员的表演如行云流水，看不出一点儿用力的痕迹。
The veteran actor’s performance flows like water; you cannot see the slightest strain.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
苏轼 praised a younger writer’s prose as being like drifting clouds and flowing water, with no fixed form. Praise for prose, brushwork, music or movement that looks unforced; often 如行云流水 or 行云流水般.
Learn this in Lesson 91 · HSK 6–7: 兰亭序与书法 (The Orchid Pavilion and the art of calligraphy)
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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