# 天马行空

tiān mǎ xíng kōng

Imagination moving freely beyond ordinary limits

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** A heavenly horse traveling through the sky

**Traditional Chinese:** 天馬行空

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe unconstrained ideas, imaginative writing, or a free style.

Imagination still needs clarity when the result serves a practical purpose.

## The image & its use

A story may move from a floating library to a city made of musical notes. This expression describes that freedom of imagination. The horse in the sky is a lively image for thought that does not stay within ordinary routes. It can praise originality in art or writing, though a proposal may need clearer structure before it can be used. The phrase therefore describes a style of thinking, while the surrounding context determines whether that freedom is especially effective.

## Examples

她的故事天马行空，充满新奇的想象。

### Traditional Chinese

她的故事天馬行空，充滿新奇的想像。

tā de gù shì tiān mǎ xíng kōng ， chōng mǎn xīn qí de xiǎng xiàng 。

Her story ranges freely through inventive ideas.

设计讨论中，大家先天马行空地提出想法。

### Traditional Chinese

設計討論中，大家先天馬行空地提出想法。

shè jì tǎo lùn zhōng ， dà jiā xiān tiān mǎ xíng kōng dì tí chū xiǎng fǎ 。

During the design discussion, everyone first offered unconstrained ideas.

这幅画天马行空，却仍有清楚的主题。

### Traditional Chinese

這幅畫天馬行空，卻仍有清楚的主題。

zhè fú huà tiān mǎ xíng kōng ， què réng yǒu qīng chǔ de zhǔ tí 。

The painting is freely imaginative yet has a clear theme.

他的开场白天马行空，需要稍加整理。

### Traditional Chinese

他的開場白天馬行空，需要稍加整理。

tā de kāi chǎng bái tiān mǎ xíng kōng ， xū yào shāo jiā zhěng lǐ 。

His imaginative opening needs a little more structure.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1296&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A9%E9%A6%AC%E8%A1%8C%E7%A9%BA)

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