| 不翼而飞 |
bù yì ér fēi |
to disappear without trace / to vanish all of a sudden / to spread fast / to spread like wildfire |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 翼 |
Yì |
surname Yi / alternative name for 绛, the capital of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC) |
| 翼 |
yì |
wing / area surrounding the bullseye of a target / to assist / one of the 28 constellations of Chinese astronomy / old variant of 翌 |
| 而 |
ér |
and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast) |
| 飞 |
fēi |
to fly |