不翼而飞

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bù yì ér fēi
• English Translation: To vanish into thin air (literally: to fly without wings)
• Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not or without.）＋「翼」（Wings.）＋「而」（A conjunction meaning 'and yet' or 'but,' connecting the lack of wings to the act of flying.）＋「飞」（To fly.）
• Meaning: Originally used to describe the rapid spread of news or rumors, this idiom is now primarily used to describe the sudden and mysterious disappearance of objects, as if they had grown wings and flown away.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不翼而飞」 contains the following nuances:

• Disappearance of Objects (Primary): Describes an object that should be there but is suddenly gone, as if it flew away. It is often used when theft is suspected or when one is baffled by a loss.
• Spread of Information (Secondary): Refers to news, rumors, or reputations spreading with incredible speed. However, the related idiom 不胫而走 (bù jìng ér zǒu) is more standard for this specific meaning in modern Chinese.

3. Usage

「不翼而飞」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Loss or Theft: The most common usage, describing a situation where valuables or documents disappear the moment you look away. It emphasizes the mystery of the disappearance.
  • Example:「我放在桌上的钱包竟然不翼而飞了。」
    （The wallet I left on the table has actually vanished into thin air.）
• Spread of News: Used when information or rumors travel at an incredible speed. Context is needed here to distinguish it from the 'disappearance' meaning.
  • Example:「这件丑闻不翼而飞，很快就成了街谈巷议的话题。」
    （This scandal spread like wildfire and soon became the talk of the town.）

Additional Examples:

1. 博物馆里的一幅名画昨夜不翼而飞，警方正在全力侦查。
   （A famous painting in the museum vanished into thin air last night, and the police are conducting a full investigation.）
2. 刚买的自行车锁在楼下，转眼间就不翼而飞了。
   （I locked my newly bought bicycle downstairs, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye.）
3. 奇怪，我明明把钥匙放在这儿的，怎么就不翼而飞了呢？
   （Strange, I clearly put my keys right here; how could they have vanished?）
4. 好消息不翼而飞，大家很快都知道我们要加薪了。
   （The good news spread quickly, and soon everyone knew we were getting a raise.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Historical Origins: This expression appears in classic texts like Guanzi (管子) and the Strategies of the Warring States (战国策). Originally, it was a metaphor for how quickly words and reputations travel—flying even without wings.
• Modern Nuance: While 'lost' (丢了) is a simple statement of fact, using 不翼而飞 (bù jìng ér zǒu) adds a sense of mystery or 'mystery thriller' vibe, emphasizing that the disappearance was sudden and inexplicable.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 不胫而走 (bù jìng ér zǒu): Literally 'to walk without legs.' This is the preferred idiom for news or rumors spreading rapidly.
  • 不知去向 (bù zhī qù xiàng): To not know where someone or something has gone; whereabouts unknown.
  • 无影无踪 (wú yǐng wú zōng): To disappear completely without a trace.link
  • 销声匿迹 (xiāo shēng nì jì): To disappear without a trace, to vanish from public view.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 失而复得 (shī ér fù dé): To find something that was once lost; lost and found.
  • 原封不动 (yuán fēng bú dòng): Left intact or untouched; exactly as it was originally.
  • 无处不在 (wú chù bù zài): Existing everywhere at the same time.link
  • 比比皆是 (bǐ bǐ jiē shì): Can be found everywhere.link

6. Summary

The idiom 不翼而飞 (bù yì ér fēi) creates a vivid image of something flying away despite having no wings. In modern usage, it is most frequently used to express surprise or shock when an item—such as a wallet, keys, or a valuable—suddenly goes missing. While it can still mean that news is spreading quickly, the phrase 不胫而走 (bù jìng ér zǒu) is more commonly used for the spread of information.