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灵机一动 (líng jī-yí dòng) — (idiom) to have a sudden inspiration; to be struck by a bright idea

Definition

An idiom for a sudden flash of inspiration — a bright idea popping into your head unprompted. Lighter than 恍然大悟 (realizing something already there) and calmer than 急中生智 (quick wits under pressure).

idiom
to have a sudden inspirationto be struck by a bright idea

Examples

  • 灵机一动，。
    Tā líng jī-yí dòng, xiǎng dào le yí gè jué miào de bàn fǎ.
    He had a sudden inspiration and thought of a brilliant solution.
  • 灵机一动，。
    Wǒ líng jī-yí dòng, jué dìng yòng lìng yì zhǒng fāng shì jiě jué wèn tí.
    I had a brainwave and decided to solve the problem in a different way.
  • 灵机一动，。
    líng jī-yí dòng Shí, líng gǎn wǎng wǎng lái zì zuì yì xiǎng bú dào de dì fāng.
    When a bright idea strikes, inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 靈; 灵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
霝
霝líng靈líng
Same sound today

This note describes the traditional form 靈, not the simplified 灵: 霝 gives the sound, and 玉 (jade) is the meaning part.

Open 灵 →

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
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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