Chinese word

灵机一动

Pronunciation

Pinyinlíng jī yī dòng

Meaning

idiomhave a flash of inspiration

Example

他灵机一动，想出了好办法。tā líng jī yí dòng xiǎng chū le hǎo bàn fǎ

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

Illustration for 灵机一动 (have a flash of inspiration)

More examples

做饭时他灵机一动，加了一种香料，味道更好了。zuò fàn shí tā líng jī yí dòng jiā le yì zhǒng xiāng liào wèi dào gèng hǎo le

While cooking, he had a flash of inspiration and added a spice, making it taste better.

Core concept

A stalled problem meets a sudden mental turn that opens a path forward.

Common phrases

灵机一动想出替代方案líng jī yí dòng xiǎng chū tì dài fāng àn
have a flash of inspiration and come up with an alternative plan
灵机一动打破僵局líng jī yí dòng dǎ pò jiāng jú
have a flash of inspiration and break the deadlock

Similar words

灵光一现líng guāng yí xiàn: A momentary flash of inspiration brings a new thought into focus.
突发奇想tū fā qí xiǎng: A sudden and surprising thought emerges, often as a creative or unusual idea.

Definition in Chinese

瞬间产生机灵的念头，想到解决办法或新主意。shùn jiān chǎn shēng jī líng de niàn tou xiǎng dào jiě jué bàn fǎ huò xīn zhǔ yì

Word origin

灵机一动 (língjīyīdòng, "a flash of inspiration") uses 灵 (líng, "clever") + 机 (jī, "wit") and 一 (yī, "one") + 动 (dòng, "move") to show quick wit suddenly becoming active.

Usage tips

The word can cover both a practical solution and a fresh idea, so it is not limited to artistic creativity or grand invention in English.

Other meanings

hit on an ideaidiom

Opposites

毫无头绪háo wú tóu xùhave no clueidiom
无从下手wú cóng xià shǒunot know where to startidiom