羚羊挂角
羚羊挂角 (líng yáng guà jiǎo) literally means “the antelope hangs by its horns” and expresses “artistry that leaves no trace”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: ling yang gua jiao, ling yang gua jiao,羚羊挂角 meaning, 羚羊挂角 in english
Artistry that leaves no trace
Pronunciation: líng yáng guà jiǎo Literal meaning: The antelope hangs by its horns
Origin & Usage
Chan Buddhist texts describe an antelope (羚羊) that sleeps by hanging (挂) its horns (角) over a branch so that its feet leave no scent on the ground and no hunter can track it. Yan Yu borrowed the image in 《沧浪诗话》 to describe the poetry he admired most: work so complete that the labour behind it has vanished, leaving 无迹可求 — nothing to trace. It became the standard Chinese term for mastery that hides its own method, and it remains the highest compliment available to a piece of writing, a performance, or a piece of craft: not that it is skilful, but that you cannot see where the skill was applied.
Examples
English: "Her best writing leaves no visible technique behind — you cannot find the seams."
Chinese: 他的诗如羚羊挂角，无迹可求。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
挂羊头卖狗肉
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
Advertise one thing and deliver another
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歧路亡羊
qí lù wáng yáng
Too many choices lead nowhere
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亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
Never too late to fix
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亡羊得牛
wáng yáng dé niú
A small loss that yields a greater gain
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羊质虎皮
yáng zhì hǔ pí
Imposing outside, timid within
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虎入羊群
hǔ rù yáng qún
Unstoppable force against the defenceless
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羊肠小道
yáng cháng xiǎo dào
A narrow, winding, difficult road
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顺手牵羊
shùn shǒu qiān yáng
Exploit small opportunities
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 羚羊挂角 mean in English?
羚羊挂角 (líng yáng guà jiǎo) literally translates to “The antelope hangs by its horns” and is used to express “Artistry that leaves no trace”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 羚羊挂角 used?
Situation: Her best writing leaves no visible technique behind — you cannot find the seams.
What is the pinyin for 羚羊挂角?
The pinyin pronunciation for 羚羊挂角 is “líng yáng guà jiǎo”.
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