<p>神功 translated as "miracle; remarkable feat" is a mistake. The editor just confused 神功 with 神工, as in "鬼斧神工" </p>

<p>"鬼斧神工"  (ghost's axe; god's skill) = out-of-worldly skill/ feat</p>

<p>功 in 神功 is referring to "功夫" (kung fu) or "功法" (method/ skill)</p>

<p>神功 literally means "god's method/ skill". </p>

<p>For example: "鐵頭功" simply means "iron head kung fu". To elevate this martial art method, people could add 神 (god like) to its name and call it  鐵頭神功 (it is not just a kung fu of iron head, it is a godly kung fu of iron head! )</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T04:26:03.820Z
2019-10-31T04:26:03.820Z
Tang Ho
<p>there's no such word in English, and it's old word only show on traditional novel</p>

<p>神 god, 功 maybe you may seem as kind of Konfu(功夫)</p>

<p>in old novel, a very mighty Konfu only few people can master it, maybe you can name it as XX神功</p>

<p>just a kidding, if someone is good at cheating, maybe he will tell you "I'll show you my "cheating"神功 on tomorrow exam"</p>

<p>or for Thor, you can name his skill as hammer神功 or lightning神功</p>

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2019-10-31T04:59:03.440Z
Thanks for the replies everyone!
Sam
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2019-10-31T04:16:46.373Z
2019-10-31T04:16:46.373Z
name
<p>What does 神功 shén gōng mean? Most chinese dictionaries say it means miracle; remarkable feat but is that really it? This term is mentioned in a cultivation novel, so I want to know. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T04:25:58.830Z
Could you add a bit context(where you have seen it)?
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T04:36:16.063Z
她们修炼的都是紫霞神功，武技为云步，乱云九式，和飘云十八式。I’ve read somewhere it means footwork, not sure need some clarification.
Sam
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-31T04:46:11.817Z
神功 can be taken as 神妙的武功. 神妙: wonderful; marvellous; ingenious; 武功: martial technique. 紫霞神功 is a very famous martial technique created by the famous novelist 金庸 in his novel.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-07T09:20:34.887Z
it is just a variant of magic.
Daniel Yang
<translation>
What does 神功 shén gōng mean?
# What does 神功 shén gōng mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-31)

What does 神功 shén gōng mean? Most chinese dictionaries say it means miracle; remarkable feat but is that really it? This term is mentioned in a cultivation novel, so I want to know.

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you add a bit context(where you have seen it)?  
> **username_0**: 她们修炼的都是紫霞神功，武技为云步，乱云九式，和飘云十八式。I’ve read somewhere it means footwork, not sure need some clarification.  
> **username_1**: 神功 can be taken as 神妙的武功. 神妙: wonderful; marvellous; ingenious; 武功: martial technique. 紫霞神功 is a very famous martial technique created by the famous novelist 金庸 in his novel.  
> **username_2**: it is just a variant of magic.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-10-31. Score: 1

神功 translated as "miracle; remarkable feat" is a mistake. The editor just confused 神功 with 神工, as in "鬼斧神工"

"鬼斧神工" (ghost's axe; god's skill) = out-of-worldly skill/ feat

功 in 神功 is referring to "功夫" (kung fu) or "功法" (method/ skill)

神功 literally means "god's method/ skill".

For example: "鐵頭功" simply means "iron head kung fu". To elevate this martial art method, people could add 神 (god like) to its name and call it 鐵頭神功 (it is not just a kung fu of iron head, it is a godly kung fu of iron head! )


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-10-31. Score: 1

there's no such word in English, and it's old word only show on traditional novel

神 god, 功 maybe you may seem as kind of Konfu(功夫)

in old novel, a very mighty Konfu only few people can master it, maybe you can name it as XX神功

just a kidding, if someone is good at cheating, maybe he will tell you "I'll show you my "cheating"神功 on tomorrow exam"

or for Thor, you can name his skill as hammer神功 or lightning神功

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the replies everyone!  

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