flowing clouds and running water; natural and effortless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
(of writing, calligraphy, music, etc.) flowing naturally and effortlessly like moving clouds and running water; spontaneous and unconstrained
literaryOriginally from a critique of calligraphy by Su Shi describing the free flow of cursive script. Now widely used to praise any artistic or literary work that appears effortless, natural, and rhythmically smooth. Often used with calligraphy, prose, musical performance, and dance.
Tā他
de的
cǎo草
shū书
bǐ笔
shì势
liú流
chàng畅
，
rú如
xíng行
yún云
liú流
shuǐ水
。
His cursive calligraphy flows with a momentum like moving clouds and running water.
Zhè这
piān篇
wén文
zhāng章
jié结
gòu构
sōng松
sǎn散
，
dú读
lái来
què却
rú如
xíng行
yún云
liú流
shuǐ水
，
háo毫
wú无
zhì滞
sè涩
zhī之
gǎn感
。
Though loosely structured, this essay reads as smoothly as flowing clouds and water, without any sense of awkwardness.
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Tā她
de的
qín琴
shēng声
rú如
xíng行
yún云
liú流
shuǐ水
，
lìng令
rén人
táo陶
zuì醉
qí其
zhōng中
。
Her piano playing flowed like clouds and water, intoxicating the listeners.
Zhè这
wèi位
wǔ舞
dǎo蹈
jiā家
de的
dòng动
zuò作
xíng行
yún云
liú流
shuǐ水
，
zhǎn展
xiàn现
chū出
jí极
gāo高
de的
yì艺
shù术
zào造
yì诣
。
The dancer's movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, demonstrating extremely high artistic accomplishment.