浑然天成

渾然天成
húnrán-tiānchéng
idiom #48,766

Meanings

  1. 1 as if formed wholly by nature
  2. 2 seamlessly perfect; without a trace of artifice
  3. 3 flawlessly unified (of art or writing)

Examples

Zhè fú huà de gòutú húnrán-tiānchéng, kànbùchū rènhé diāozhuó hénjì.
The composition of this painting feels entirely natural - no trace of effort showing.
Yǎnyuán bǎ juésè yǎnyì de húnrán-tiānchéng.
The actor inhabited the role so completely that the performance felt effortless.
Zhè shǒu shī yìjìng shēnyuǎn, yǔyán húnrán-tiānchéng.
This poem's imagery is profound and its language seamlessly natural.

Tips

history
From Han Yu's 《上襄阳于相公书》 (Tang dynasty): praising the recipient's 浑然天成 character - superior gifts and noble virtue 'whole as if made by nature'. Originally about a person; later applied to art and craft.
usage
Top-tier compliment for art, writing, performance, or design where you can't see the seams. Implies more than 'good' - it means the effort is invisible.

Stroke Order

hún
rán
tiān
chéng