hang4 wan4 lau4 seoi2行雲流水行云流水
Jyutpinghang4 wan4 lau4 seoi2
Yalehàhng wàhn làuh séui
Definition
Natural and smooth like drifting clouds and flowing water; free, easy, and unconstrained.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Originally describing the movement of clouds and water, this idiom is now frequently used to praise technical skills that appear effortless. It implies a high level of mastery where the performer no longer needs to think about the mechanics of their actions. While often applied to calligraphy or martial arts, it can describe any process that unfolds without hesitation or awkward pauses.
Examples
Her handwriting is natural and fluid, it looks very pleasant.
Related words
Common phrases
calligraphy is fluid and natural
martial arts performance is smooth and effortless
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
