📖 Meaning
This idiom describes changes that are so wondrous, varied, and unpredictable that they seem to involve the supernatural. It conveys transformations that are impossible to fathom or grasp. It is often used to praise writing, art, or strategy for its extraordinarily varied and mysterious quality.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a poem by Song Zhiwen (宋之问) of the Tang Dynasty titled 'Song of the Heavenly Gate of Mount Song' (《嵩山天门歌》). The original lines describe mountain scenery: pines shifting and peaks turning, changing left and right; winds arising and clouds gathering, 'going out like ghosts and entering like gods.' The phrase was later adopted by Ming Dynasty scholar Hu Yinglin (胡应麟) in his work 'Shisou' (《诗薮》) to praise Li Bai's poems such as 'Hard Road in Shu' (蜀道难) for their supernatural, unfathomable changes.
💡 Example Usage
这篇文章构思奇巧，出鬼入神，令人叹为观止。
This article is ingeniously conceived with wondrous, unpredictable changes that leave one in awe.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 出鬼入神
- Pinyin: chū guǐ rù shén
- Literal Translation: go out, ghost, enter, divine
- Category: Variety
- Characters: 4