灵机一动

靈機一動

língjī-yīdòng

idiom HSK 7-9 #31,501

Meanings

1 to have a sudden inspiration
2 a bright idea suddenly occurs

Characters

mechanism; opportunity

Examples

他灵机一动，想出了一个好办法。

Tā língjī-yīdòng, xiǎng chū le yīgè hǎo bànfǎ.

He had a flash of inspiration and came up with a great solution.

她灵机一动，用手机当手电筒。

Tā língjī-yīdòng, yòng shǒujī dāng shǒudiàntǒng.

She had a sudden idea and used her phone as a flashlight.

Tips

memory

灵机 = clever mechanism (your quick-thinking mind), 一动 = one movement. Your mental gears click once and the idea appears.

Stroke Order

灵 líng

机 jī

一 yī

动 dòng