Definitions

fēi (verb) to fly

Etymology

Simplified form of . Pictograph of a flying bird.

About

The character for "to fly" began as a stylized depiction of a bird in motion, evolving into the traditional form "飛" whose structure suggests wings and upward movement through its repeated compositional elements. Derived from cursive adaptations, the simplified form "飞" captures this motion in a more economical stroke pattern that conveys a sense of swift ascent. While its fundamental meaning of moving through the air has remained constant, the character's usage expanded metaphorically to describe anything characterized by speed, lightness, or rapid dissemination, such as fleeting thoughts or quickly spreading news, illustrating how its semantic range grew alongside the language's development.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我看见一架机。

Wǒ kànjiàn yī jià fēijī.

I see an airplane.

小鸟在天空中

Xiǎo niǎo zài tiānkōng zhōng fēi.

The little bird is flying in the sky.

他梦想成为一名行员。

Tā mèngxiǎng chéngwéi yī míng fēixíngyuán.

He dreams of becoming a pilot.

风筝随风得很高。

Fēngzhēng suí fēng fēi de hěn gāo.

The kite flies very high with the wind.

她的思绪到了遥远的童年。

Tā de sīxù fēi dào le yáoyuǎn de tóngnián.

Her thoughts flew to her distant childhood.

这家航空公司提供国际行服务。

Zhè jiā hángkōng gōngsī tígōng guójì fēixíng fúwù.

This airline provides international flight services.

随着科技的发展,人类向太空的梦想正在实现。

Suízhe kējì de fāzhǎn, rénlèi fēi xiàng tàikōng de mèngxiǎng zhèngzài shíxiàn.

With the development of technology, humanity's dream of flying to space is being realized.

若非天气恶劣,航班本应准时起并安全降落。

Ruò fēi tiānqì èliè, hángbān běn yīng zhǔnshí qǐfēi bìng ānquán jiàngluò.

If not for the bad weather, the flight should have taken off on time and landed safely.