# 天衣无缝

tiān yī wú fèng

So well made or coordinated that no flaw is apparent

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Heavenly clothing without seams

**Traditional Chinese:** 天衣無縫

**Register:** Admiring or critical · conversational

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Use to praise flawless construction, reasoning, or coordination.

It can describe a cleverly concealed deception as well as admirable work; context determines approval.

## Understanding the expression

A seam usually reveals where separate pieces have been joined. The image of clothing without seams presents a whole whose construction leaves no visible break. Modern use can praise craft, an argument, or coordination between people. It can also describe a deception that appears difficult to expose. The phrase is emphatic praise of apparent perfection, not a claim that a result has been proved infallible.

## Examples

两位演员配合得天衣无缝。

### Traditional Chinese

兩位演員配合得天衣無縫。

liǎng wèi yǎn yuán pèi hé dé tiān yī wú fèng 。

The two actors worked together seamlessly.

她把旧照片修复得天衣无缝，几乎看不出损坏。

### Traditional Chinese

她把舊照片修復得天衣無縫，幾乎看不出損壞。

tā bǎ jiù zhào piàn xiū fù dé tiān yī wú fèng ， jī hū kàn bù chū sǔn huài 。

She restored the old photograph so well that the damage is almost invisible.

这个解释看似天衣无缝，仍然需要证据支持。

### Traditional Chinese

這個解釋看似天衣無縫，仍然需要證據支持。

zhè ge jiě shì kàn sì tiān yī wú fèng ， réng rán xū yào zhèng jù zhī chí 。

The explanation seems flawless, but it still needs evidence.

骗子以为计划天衣无缝，却留下了付款记录。

### Traditional Chinese

騙子以為計劃天衣無縫，卻留下了付款記錄。

piàn zi yǐ wéi jì huà tiān yī wú fèng ， què liú xià le fù kuǎn jì lù 。

The fraudsters thought their plan had no flaws, but they left payment records behind.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A9%E8%A1%A3%E7%84%A1%E7%B8%AB)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=12&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [脱颖而出 tuō yǐng ér chū Stand out through evident talent ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tuo-ying-er-chu)

- [玩物丧志 wán wù sàng zhì Lose ambition through excessive indulgence ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wan-wu-sang-zhi)

- [望洋兴叹 wàng yáng xīng tàn Feel unable to undertake something beyond one’s capacity ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wang-yang-xing-tan)

- [韦编三绝 wéi biān sān jué Study a text repeatedly and diligently ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wei-bian-san-jue)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 天涯海角 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-ya-hai-jiao) [Next idiom 天造地设 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/tian-zao-di-she)