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.
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.
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.
Simplified form of 飛. Pictograph of a flying bird.
1The giveawayA bird flapping its wings
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 飞? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 飞?
How to say to fly in Chinese
“to fly” in Chinese is飞fēi
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.
When to use 飞
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).
飞 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 飞
飞
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.
