不翼而飞

bù yì ér fēi

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. to disappear without trace
2. to vanish all of a sudden
3. to spread fast
4. to spread like wildfire

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Word relationships

Synonyms

1 item

不胫而走

bù jìng ér zǒu

to get round fast

For describing news or information spreading quickly.

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 消息, 谣言, 东西 to mean news/spread or things/vanish.

Common mistakes

Do not use 不翼而飞 for concrete objects moving through air; it's metaphorical for disappearing or spreading quickly.

Example Sentences

1 shown

我的钱包不翼而飞了。

My wallet has vanished without a trace.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 不翼而飞

no; not so

and

to fly

wing