Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
起飞(起飛)qǐfēi(qi3fei1)
起飞 (qǐfēi) means 'to take off' in the context of an aircraft departing from the ground. It is commonly used in travel, aviation discussions, and can also metaphorically describe starting a new venture or project.
Frequency#3252DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking off is often associated with new beginnings, such as new jobs or life phases, reflecting the importance of change and progress in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine an airplane with its wings spread wide, preparing to leap into the sky. The character 起 (qǐ) looks like a person standing up, symbolizing 'rising' or 'getting up,' while 飞 (fēi) resembles a bird in flight, emphasizing the action of taking off.
Meanings of 起飞
qǐfēi(qi3fei1)
1(of an aircraft) to take off
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 起飞
起飞Simplified
起飛Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3252Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 起飞
Podcast: 起飞
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 起飞
Quick Contrast
起飞 (qǐfēi) vs 起程 (qǐchéng) — use 起飞 for aircraft taking off, while 起程 refers to the start of a journey, not specifically by air.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an airplane with its wings spread wide, preparing to leap into the sky. The character 起 (qǐ) looks like a person standing up, symbolizing 'rising' or 'getting up,' while 飞 (fēi) resembles a bird in flight, emphasizing the action of taking off.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context; 起飞 is often used in formal discussions about flights. A common mistake is using it in informal contexts, like 'taking off' in daily conversations, where you might instead say '走了' (zǒu le) for 'I'm leaving.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 起飞 builds on the vocabulary of travel and transportation. Students should practice using it in sentences related to flights and also learn related terms like 飞机 (fēijī - airplane) and 降落 (jiàngluò - to land).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking off is often associated with new beginnings, such as new jobs or life phases, reflecting the importance of change and progress in society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 起飞 with 降落 (jiàngluò - to land), using it incorrectly in contexts discussing arrivals. For example, saying '飞机在起飞' (The plane is landing) should be corrected to '飞机在降落'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 起飞
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 起飞 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 起飞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 起飞
起飞 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Would passengers please put out cigarettes before the commencement of the flight.
10
我们的班机最终晚了五个小时起飞。
wǒ mén de bān jī zuì zhōng wǎn le wǔ gè xiǎo shí qǐ fēi。
Our flight eventually left five hours late.
Cultural Notes for 起飞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking off is often associated with new beginnings, such as new jobs or life phases, reflecting the importance of change and progress in society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 起飞
While primarily used for aircraft, you can use 起飞 metaphorically to describe the start of projects or initiatives.
Yes, another way to express this is 出发 (chūfā), which means 'to depart,' but it is broader and can refer to ground transport as well.
