<p>I think a Chinese-English dictionary will be helpful to you</p>

<p>In 汉英词典(第3版), it explains 巧夺天工 as "wonderful workmanship (or superb craftsmanship) excelling nature ".</p>

<p>It also explains 阴阳 as “1.【哲】 (in Chinese thought) yin and yang (the two opposing principles in nature, the former feminine and negative, the latter masculine and positive)     2. ancient Chinese astronomy (esp. the study of the movements of the celestial bodies)”</p>

<p>Anyway, I'd like to point out that many Chinese idioms are derived from allusions or some words in classical Chinese literature, so a specific dictionary will help you when dealing with Chinese idioms.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-27T11:58:03.637Z
2015-08-27T11:58:03.637Z
goldmonkey
<p>I had the phrase '巧夺天工‘ in my text, so I 百度 it. 百度 explains it thus:</p>

<p>专指人工的精巧胜过天然制成,形容技艺十分高超。, which is clear.</p>

<p>However, they say '巧夺天工‘ comes from </p>

<p>古代成语，“微妙在智，触类而长，玄通阴了，巧夺造化。” and that is more difficult for me to follow.</p>

<p>Subtle wisdom, ????, ????, timely seize good fortune.</p>

<p>Could you fill in the ???? please?</p>

<p>EDIT:
When a problem seems intractable, rearrange the problem. This 古代成语 is very cryptic and not easily amenable to translation. Could you tell me please, if my conversion of it to a more modern Chinese captures the meaning of the 古代成语?</p>

<ol>
<li>微妙在智（的人），2. 触类而长，3. 玄通阴了，4. 巧夺造化</li>
</ol>

<p>1.精神满腹的人，</p>

<ol start="2">
<li><p>通过研究一件事情，演绎出类似事情的工作方法，</p></li>
<li><p>从而了解大自然的神秘运作，</p></li>
<li><p>然后巧妙地控制自然（造化）。</p></li>
</ol>

<meaning>
How to interpret the explanation of '巧夺天工‘？
# How to interpret the explanation of '巧夺天工‘？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-27)

I had the phrase '巧夺天工‘ in my text, so I 百度 it. 百度 explains it thus:

专指人工的精巧胜过天然制成,形容技艺十分高超。, which is clear.

However, they say '巧夺天工‘ comes from

古代成语，“微妙在智，触类而长，玄通阴了，巧夺造化。” and that is more difficult for me to follow.

Subtle wisdom, ????, ????, timely seize good fortune.

Could you fill in the ???? please?

EDIT:
When a problem seems intractable, rearrange the problem. This 古代成语 is very cryptic and not easily amenable to translation. Could you tell me please, if my conversion of it to a more modern Chinese captures the meaning of the 古代成语?

1. 微妙在智（的人），2. 触类而长，3. 玄通阴了，4. 巧夺造化

1.精神满腹的人，

2. 通过研究一件事情，演绎出类似事情的工作方法，
3. 从而了解大自然的神秘运作，
4. 然后巧妙地控制自然（造化）。

**Tags:** meaning

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-27. Score: 0

I think a Chinese-English dictionary will be helpful to you

In 汉英词典(第3版), it explains 巧夺天工 as "wonderful workmanship (or superb craftsmanship) excelling nature ".

It also explains 阴阳 as “1.【哲】 (in Chinese thought) yin and yang (the two opposing principles in nature, the former feminine and negative, the latter masculine and positive) 2. ancient Chinese astronomy (esp. the study of the movements of the celestial bodies)”

Anyway, I'd like to point out that many Chinese idioms are derived from allusions or some words in classical Chinese literature, so a specific dictionary will help you when dealing with Chinese idioms.


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