不翼而飞

• Pinyin: bù yì ér fēi
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = not; 翼 = wings; 而 = yet/but; 飞 = to fly

Meaning

To vanish into thin air; to disappear without a trace. Literally 'to fly away without wings.'

An idiom describing the mysterious or sudden disappearance of something. Can refer to lost items, missing money, or information that spreads rapidly (as if flying). Often implies something suspicious.

Examples

1. 我放在桌上的钱包不翼而飞了，到处都找不到。 The wallet I left on the table vanished into thin air — I can't find it anywhere.
2. 机密文件从档案室不翼而飞，公司立即展开调查。 Confidential documents disappeared from the archives, and the company immediately launched an investigation.
3. 还没正式宣布，消息就已经不翼而飞传遍了全公司。 Before the official announcement, the news had already spread throughout the entire company.

Usage Guide

Context: mystery, loss, spreading information

Tone: puzzled

Do Say

• 我的手机不翼而飞了！(My phone vanished into thin air!)
• 公款不翼而飞，必须彻查。(Public funds have gone missing — there must be a thorough investigation.)

Don't Say

• 我把东西送人了，它不翼而飞了。(Don't use 不翼而飞 when you know where it went — it's for mysterious disappearances)

Origin & History

From Guanzi: 三年不翼而飞。Describing something that spreads or disappears as if it had wings.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal