神机妙算
shén jī miào suàn
Divine foresight and clever strategy · trad. 神機妙算
Refers to extraordinary foresight and brilliant strategic planning. It describes someone who can predict events with uncanny accuracy and devise incredibly clever schemes. This idiom often applies to plans that seem almost supernatural in their effectiveness.
What does 神机妙算 (shén jī miào suàn) mean?
神机妙算 (shén jī miào suàn) means "divine foresight and clever strategy" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "divine ingenuity wonderful calculation."
Character by character
- 神 shén divine, miraculous
- 机 jī ingenuity, cleverness
- 妙 miào wonderful, ingenious
- 算 suàn calculation, strategy
When to use it
Typically used to praise someone's exceptional intelligence and strategic prowess, especially in military tactics, problem-solving, or predicting outcomes. It carries a tone of admiration and awe for a truly brilliant mind.
Example
诸葛亮草船借箭，真是神机妙算啊！
Zhūgéliàng cǎochuánjièjiàn, zhēnshì shén jī miào suàn a!
Zhuge Liang's strategy of borrowing arrows with straw boats was truly a stroke of genius!
Pro tip: The 'divine' aspect emphasizes the seemingly impossible or supernatural cleverness of the plan, highlighting its extraordinary effectiveness and foresight rather than a religious connotation.
Related idioms
全力以赴 · Full effort dedication人山人海 · Vast crowds of people适得其反 · Producing opposite results
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