行云流水 flowing clouds and water
Explanation
形容文章或书法自然流畅，不受拘束，像云彩飘浮，流水流动一样。也比喻做事自然，毫不费力。
Describes writing or calligraphy as natural and fluent, unconstrained, like floating clouds and flowing water. Also used as a metaphor for doing things naturally and effortlessly.
Origin Story
唐代大书法家颜真卿，其书法造诣极高，笔走龙蛇，气势磅礴，却又自然流畅，宛若行云流水。据说，他年轻时曾拜师学艺，勤学苦练多年，终于练就了这炉火纯青的技艺。一日，他挥毫泼墨，写下一幅字，友人观后赞叹不已，称其字如行云流水，妙不可言。颜真卿谦逊地说：‘这只是我多年苦练的结果。’从此，“行云流水”就用来形容书法或文章自然流畅，不受拘束。 后来，这个成语也用来比喻做事自然毫不费力。例如，一位经验丰富的厨师，做菜时动作娴熟，一气呵成，就像行云流水一样，令人赞叹。
Yan Zhenqing, a great calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, had extremely high attainments in calligraphy. His brushstrokes were vigorous and majestic, yet natural and smooth, like flowing clouds and water. It is said that when he was young, he studied hard and practiced for many years, finally achieving this superb skill. One day, he wrote a piece of calligraphy with a flourish, and after seeing it, his friends praised it, saying that the writing was like clouds and water flowing, wonderfully indescribable. Yan Zhenqing humbly said, 'This is only the result of my many years of hard work. From then on, "flowing clouds and water" is used to describe the natural and unrestrained flowing smoothness of calligraphy or writing. Later, this idiom was also used to describe doing things naturally and effortlessly. For example, an experienced chef cooks skillfully and smoothly, like flowing clouds and water, which is admirable.
Usage
常用来形容文章、书法、绘画等作品自然流畅，也比喻做事自然轻松，毫不费力。
Often used to describe the natural and fluent elegance of literary works, calligraphy, painting, etc., and also to illustrate that someone accomplishes something effortlessly and naturally.
Examples
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他的书法，行云流水，十分流畅。
tā de shūfǎ, xíng yún liú shuǐ, shífēn liúlàng
His calligraphy flows like clouds and water, very smooth.
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这篇小说，行云流水，读来令人赏心悦目。
zhè piān xiǎoshuō, xíng yún liú shuǐ, dú lái lìng rén shǎngxīn yuèmù
This novel, like flowing clouds and water, is pleasing to read.