鬼使神差 guǐ shǐ shén chāi as if led by an unseen force

Explanation

形容事情发展或事情发生的过程，好像有鬼神在暗中操纵一样，让人觉得不可思议，不由自主。

Describes the development or occurrence of events as if they were secretly controlled by ghosts, which is unbelievable and involuntary for those involved.

Origin Story

话说唐朝有个书生，名叫李白，他从小就勤奋好学，一心想考取功名。有一天，他去京城赶考，路途遥远，跋山涉水，身心俱疲。当他走到一座荒凉的山谷时，天色已晚，他找不到住处，只好在山脚下休息。这时，他突然听到一阵奇怪的歌声，歌声悠扬婉转，像仙乐一般。他循声走去，发现一个穿着奇特服装的老人坐在一块大石头上，正在唱歌。老人见他来了，便热情地邀请他一起唱歌。李白虽然很疲惫，但还是被老人的歌声吸引住了。他和老人一起唱了很久，直到东方泛白。这时，他突然发现自己不知不觉地走到了京城，距离考试地点只有几步之遥。他感到非常惊讶，心想：我明明记得在山谷里休息，怎么一转眼就到了京城？难道是鬼使神差？

huà shuō táng cháo yǒu ge shū shēng, míng jiào lǐ bái, tā cóng xiǎo jiù qínfèn hào xué, yī xīn xiǎng kǎo qǔ gōng míng. yǒu yī tiān, tā qù jīng chéng gǎn kǎo, lù tú yáo yuǎn, bá shān shè shuǐ, shēn xīn jù pí. dāng tā zǒu dào yī zuò huāng liáng de shān gǔ shí, tiān sè yǐ wǎn, tā zhǎo bù dào zhù chù, zhǐ hǎo zài shān jiǎo xià xiū xī. zhè shí, tā tū rán tīng dào yī zhèn qí guài de gē shēng, gē shēng yōu yáng wǎn zhuǎn, xiàng xiān lè yī bān. tā xún shēng zǒu qù, fā xiàn yīgè chuān zhe qí tè fú zhuāng de lǎo rén zuò zài yī kuài dà shí tou shàng, zhèng zài chàng gē. lǎo rén jiàn tā lái le, biàn rè qíng de yāo qǐng tā yī qǐ chàng gē. lǐ bái suī rán hěn pí bèi, dàn hái shì bèi lǎo rén de gē shēng xī yǐn zhù le. tā hé lǎo rén yī qǐ chàng le hěn jiǔ, zhí dào dōng fāng fàn bái. zhè shí, tā tū rán fā xiàn zì jǐ bù zhī bù jué de zǒu dào le jīng chéng, jù lí kǎo shì dì diǎn zhǐ yǒu jǐ bù zhī yáo. tā gǎn dào fēi cháng jīng yà, xīn xiǎng: wǒ míng míng jì de zài shān gǔ lǐ xiū xī, zěn me yī zhuǎn yǎn jiù dào le jīng chéng? nán dào shì guǐ shǐ shén chāi?

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Bai, who was diligent and studious from a young age and aspired to achieve fame. One day, he went to the capital to take the imperial examinations. The journey was long, and he traveled over mountains and rivers, exhausted both physically and mentally. When he arrived at a desolate valley, it was already late, and he couldn't find a place to stay, so he had to rest at the foot of the mountain. At this moment, he suddenly heard a strange song, melodious and gentle, like celestial music. He followed the sound and found an old man in peculiar clothes sitting on a large stone, singing. When the old man saw him coming, he warmly invited him to sing together. Although Li Bai was very tired, he was still captivated by the old man's song. He sang with the old man for a long time, until dawn broke. At this time, he suddenly found that he had unknowingly arrived in the capital, only a few steps away from the examination venue. He was very surprised and thought: I clearly remember resting in the valley, how did I suddenly arrive in the capital? Was it fate or a supernatural event?

Usage

用作谓语、宾语、状语；多用于描写人物的行为动作，表示事情发生的意外和不可思议。

yòng zuò wèiyǔ, bǐnyǔ, zhuàngyǔ; duō yòng yú miáoxiě rénwù de xíngwéi dòngzuò, biǎoshì shìqíng fāshēng de yìwài hé bù kěsīyì

Used as predicate, object, and adverbial; mainly used to describe people's behavior and actions, expressing the unexpected and unbelievable occurrence of events.

Examples

• 他鬼使神差地走进了那家店。

  ta gui shi shen chai di zou jin le na jia dian.

  He walked into that shop as if led by an unseen force.

• 我鬼使神差地答应了他的请求。

  wo gui shi shen chai di daying le ta de qingqiu

  I answered his request as if possessed by spirits

Related Idioms

• 不由自主

• 情不自禁

• 身不由己

Opposite Idioms

• 深思熟虑

• 计划周详