巧夺天工
巧夺天工 (qiǎo duó tiān gōng) literally means “skill surpasses nature's work” and expresses “craftsmanship beyond natural limits”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: qiao duo tian gong, qiao duo tian gong,巧夺天工 meaning, 巧夺天工 in english
Craftsmanship beyond natural limits
Pronunciation: qiǎo duó tiān gōng Literal meaning: Skill surpasses nature's work
Origin & Usage
This descends from a line by Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan dynasty on human artifice seizing the work of heaven — 人间巧艺夺天工. Skill (巧) so fine that it wrests away (夺) what nature (天) made (工) is praise of an unusual kind, since it sets craft in competition with creation rather than in imitation of it. Workmanship refined past the point where a hand should have been able to go.
Examples
English: "The intricate jade carving exceeded what seemed humanly possible"
Chinese: 这件精细的玉雕超越了人力所能及的极限
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
坐井观天
zuò jǐng guān tiān
Judge with limited perspective
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破天荒
pò tiān huāng
For the first time ever; unprecedented
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别有洞天
bié yǒu dòng tiān
A hidden paradise; unexpected inner beauty
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天衣无缝
tiān yī wú fèng
Flawless and perfectly seamless
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得天独厚
dé tiān dú hòu
Uniquely blessed with natural advantages
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惊天动地
jīng tiān dòng dì
Earth-shaking; tremendous
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争分夺秒
zhēng fēn duó miǎo
Race against time; make every second count
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天外有天
tiān wài yǒu tiān
Always someone better
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 巧夺天工 mean in English?
巧夺天工 (qiǎo duó tiān gōng) literally translates to “Skill surpasses nature's work” and is used to express “Craftsmanship beyond natural limits”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 巧夺天工 used?
Situation: The intricate jade carving exceeded what seemed humanly possible
What is the pinyin for 巧夺天工?
The pinyin pronunciation for 巧夺天工 is “qiǎo duó tiān gōng”.
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