信手拈来 (xìn shǒu niān lái) — (idiom) to accomplish something effortlessly, especially in writing or artistic creation; (idiom) to have full command of material and produce work freely without hesitation

Definition

Idiom for doing something (especially writing or creating) effortlessly, as if material is right at hand. Carries a more literary, admiring tone than plain 毫不费力.

idiom
to accomplish something effortlessly, especially in writing or artistic creationto have full command of material and produce work freely without hesitation

Examples

  • 信手拈来，。
    Tā xiě wén zhāng shí zǒng néng xìn shǒu niān lái, háo bú fèi lì.
    When he writes essays, he can always do it effortlessly, without any trouble.
  • ，信手拈来。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā duì jì qiǎo fēi cháng shú xi, zuò huà shí xìn shǒu niān lái.
    This painter is very familiar with the techniques; when he paints, he does it effortlessly.
  • 信手拈来，。
    Duō dú shū néng ràng nǐ zài xiě zuò shí xìn shǒu niān lái, bú zài qiǎ ké.
    Reading more can enable you to write freely without getting stuck.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

信手casually by hand
信xìncasually手shǒuhand
偏正Modifier + head
拈来pick up
拈niānpick来láicome
补充Verb + complement

信手 suggests casually by hand, and 拈来 means to pick up, picturing effortless creation.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 拈 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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