大巧若拙 Dà qiǎo ruò zhuō Great skill appears as clumsiness

Explanation

指真正聪明的人，不显露自己，从表面看，好像笨拙。

Refers to truly intelligent people who do not show off their abilities and therefore appear clumsy on the surface.

Origin Story

春秋时期，一位技艺高超的木匠来到一个村庄，他接到一个任务，要制作一件精巧的木器。他花了很长时间，动作缓慢，看起来笨手笨脚，旁人都觉得他手艺不行。但最终，他完成的作品却精美绝伦，远超其他木匠，令人叹为观止。这正是“大巧若拙”的最佳体现。他看似笨拙的动作，实则蕴含着深厚的技艺和对细节的极致追求。他并不炫耀自己的技艺，而是将所有的精力都投入到作品本身，最终呈现出超越常人的精湛技艺。

chūn qiū shí qī, yī wèi jì yì gāo chāo de mù jiàng lái dào yīgè cūn zhuāng, tā jiē dào yīgè rèn wù, yào zhì zuò yī jiàn jīng qiǎo de mù qì. tā huā le hěn cháng shí jiān, dòng zuò màn màn, kàn qǐlái bèn shǒu bèn jiǎo, páng rén dōu jué de tā shǒu yì bù xíng. dàn zuì zhōng, tā wán chéng de zuò pǐn què jīng měi jué lún, yuǎn chāo qí tā mù jiàng, lìng rén tàn wèi guān zhǐ. zhè zhèng shì "dà qiǎo ruò zhuō" de zuì jiā tí xiàn. tā kàn sì bèn zhuō de dòng zuò, shí zé yùn hánzhe shēn hòu de jì yì hé duì xì jié de jí zhì zhuī qiú. tā bìng bù xuányào zìjǐ de jì yì, ér shì jiāng suǒ yǒu de jīng lì dōu tóu rù dào zuò pǐn běn shēn, zuì zhōng chéng xiàn chū chāo yuè cháng rén de jīng zhàn jì yì.

During the Spring and Autumn period, a highly skilled carpenter came to a village. He received a commission to create an exquisite piece of woodwork. He spent a long time, his movements slow and clumsy in appearance. Others thought he lacked skill. But eventually, his finished work was exceptionally beautiful, far superior to that of other carpenters, leaving everyone amazed. This is a perfect example of “great skill appears as clumsiness.” His seemingly clumsy movements actually contained profound skill and the ultimate pursuit of detail. He didn't show off his skills, but devoted all his energy to the work itself, ultimately presenting a superb skill beyond that of ordinary people.

Usage

形容技艺精湛的人，表面上看似笨拙，实际上却技艺高超。

xíng róng jì yì jīng zhàn de rén, biǎo miàn shang kàn sì bèn zhuō, shíjì shang què jì yì gāo chāo.

Describes someone who is masterful in their skill but outwardly appears clumsy.

Examples

• 他看起来很笨拙，实际上却是一位技艺精湛的工匠，真是大巧若拙。

  tā kàn qǐlái hěn bèn zhuō, shíjì shang què shì yī wèi jì yì jīng zhàn de gōng jiàng, zhēn shì dà qiǎo ruò zhuō.

  He looks clumsy, but he is actually a skilled craftsman, a true example of "great skill appears as clumsiness".

• 这位大师的武功看似平平无奇，实则深藏不露，正是大巧若拙的体现。

  zhè wèi dà shī de wǔ gōng kàn sì píng píng wú qí, shízé shēn cáng bù lù, zhèng shì dà qiǎo ruò zhuō de tí xiàn。

  This master's martial arts seem ordinary, but in fact they are profound and hidden, a perfect example of "great skill appears as clumsiness".

Related Idioms

• 大智若愚

• 深藏不露

Opposite Idioms

• 不可一世

• 目中无人