noun
miraculous deed; divine resourcefulness
Refers to an act or ability that seems beyond human capacity, as if divinely inspired. Often used in literary or elevated contexts to describe extraordinary cleverness or a feat that cannot be explained by ordinary means.
彼の神機とも言える発想に、皆が驚嘆した。
Everyone marveled at his idea, which could only be described as a miraculous deed.
この難局を乗り切ったのは、まさに神機としか言いようがない。
Overcoming this crisis can only be called an act of divine resourcefulness.
Composed of 神 (divine, god) and 機 (mechanism, opportunity, loom). The combination suggests a 'divine mechanism' or 'god-given opportunity', implying an act of extraordinary resourcefulness that seems to operate on a higher plane. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in classical and literary Japanese to describe feats of uncanny cleverness.