Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
飞(飛)fēi(fei1)
The character 飞 (fēi) means 'to fly' and is commonly used in contexts related to birds, aircraft, and the act of moving swiftly through the air. It can also imply a sense of freedom and elevation, often associated with aspirations or high ambitions.
Strokes3Radical飞Frequency#803DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flying often symbolizes freedom and transcendence. The idea of 'flying high' is often used in motivational contexts, such as in phrases encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bird taking off into the sky, its wings spreading wide. The character 飞 resembles a bird soaring upward, and the sound 'fēi' can remind you of the wind whistling as it flies by.
Meanings of 飞
fēi(fei1)
1to fly
2to fly, to dart; high
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 飞
飞Simplified
飛Traditional
3Strokes
飞Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#803Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 飞
Podcast: 飞
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 飞
Quick Contrast
飞 (fēi) is used to describe the action of flying or moving through the air, often referring to birds, planes, or other objects. In contrast, 航 (háng) is used in contexts related to navigation or travel, especially by sea or air, such as in 航空 (aviation). 翔 (xiáng) implies flying in a graceful, circling manner, often used in literary contexts to describe birds.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a bird taking off into the sky, its wings spreading wide. The character 飞 resembles a bird soaring upward, and the sound 'fēi' can remind you of the wind whistling as it flies by.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 飞 can be used to describe rapid movement, such as '飞快' (fēikuài - to fly quickly). Watch out for tone mistakes, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include 飞机 (fēijī - airplane) and 飞行 (fēixíng - flight).
HSK Study Tips
飞 is not included in HSK levels but is a fundamental character for beginners due to its relevance in everyday conversation. Focus on its usage in phrases related to travel and speed, and practice the pronunciation to master the tone.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flying often symbolizes freedom and transcendence. The idea of 'flying high' is often used in motivational contexts, such as in phrases encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 飞 with similar-sounding words, leading to mistakes like saying 'fei' instead of 'fēi'. Ensure the correct tone is used to maintain the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 飞
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 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 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 飞
飞 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
zhè jià fēi jī de bù jiàn jiāng zài shì jiè gè dì zhì zào。
Parts for the aircraft will be made all round the world.
11
小鸟在天空中飞来飞去。
Xiǎo niǎo zài tiānkōng zhōng fēi lái fēi qù.
The little bird is flying back and forth in the sky.
12
我坐飞机去上海。
Wǒ zuò fēijī qù Shànghǎi.
I take a plane to Shanghai.
13
这只蝴蝶飞得很高。
Zhè zhī húdié fēi de hěn gāo.
This butterfly flies very high.
14
放假时，我们去看飞机起飞。
Fàngjià shí, wǒmen qù kàn fēijī qǐfēi.
During the holiday, we go to watch the planes take off.
15
小鸟从树上飞到屋顶。
Xiǎo niǎo cóng shù shàng fēi dào wū dǐng.
The bird flew from the tree to the rooftop.
16
蜜蜂在花园里飞来飞去。
Mìfēng zài huāyuán lǐ fēi lái fēi qù.
Bees are flying around in the garden.
Cultural Notes for 飞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, flying often symbolizes freedom and transcendence. The idea of 'flying high' is often used in motivational contexts, such as in phrases encouraging people to pursue their dreams.
Word Family of 飞
Compounds1
飛fei1to fly, to dart; high
Words Containing This Character20
飞fēito fly飛
飞机fēijīairplane飛機
飞行fēixíngflying飛行
飞船fēichuánairship飛船
起飞qǐfēi(of an aircraft) to take off起飛
飞行员fēixíngyuánpilot飛行員
飞翔fēixiángto soar飛翔
飞龙wyvern (type of dragon)飛龍
飞跃fēiyuèto leap飛躍
飞快very fast飛快
飞扬to rise飛揚
飞速fēisùflying speed飛速
航天飞机space shuttle航天飛機
飞利浦Philips (company)飛利浦
直升飞机helicopter直升飛機
飞越to fly across飛越
飞过to fly over飛過
飞舞to flutter飛舞
飞奔to rush飛奔
飞天flying Apsara (Buddhist art)飛天
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 飛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 飞
Common phrases include 飞机 (fēijī - airplane) and 飞行 (fēixíng - flight), which are essential for travel conversations.
Make sure to pronounce it with a high level tone, as in 'fēi', to convey the correct meaning.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to express aspirations, like in the phrase '希望飞得更高' (xīwàng fēi dé gèng gāo - hope to fly higher).
