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一帆风顺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnpropitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)HSK 6, i, 20 strokes, rank #15056, Hard
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnplain sailingHSK 6, i, 20 strokes, rank #15056, Hard
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnto go smoothlyHSK 6, i, 20 strokes, rank #15056, Hard
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnhave a nice trip!HSK 6, i, 20 strokes, rank #15056, Hard
yìfānfēngshùn(yi4fan1feng1shun4)yi fan feng shun T1
  1. 1propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)
  2. 2plain sailing
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March 24, 2026

一帆风顺(一帆風順)yìfānfēngshùn(yi4fan1feng1shun4)

一帆风顺 (yī fān fēng shùn) is an idiom that expresses the wish for things to go smoothly, especially during a journey or new endeavor. It literally means 'with a sail and favorable winds', indicating a journey that encounters no obstacles and proceeds without difficulty.

Strokes20Frequency#15056DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, wishing someone 一帆风顺 is a common practice during events such as graduations or new job beginnings, reflecting a cultural emphasis on smooth progress and auspicious beginnings.

Memory tip

Imagine a boat with a single sail (一帆) gliding effortlessly across a calm sea, propelled by a gentle breeze (风顺). Visualize the sailor smiling, knowing that the winds are perfectly in their favor, making the journey smooth and enjoyable.

Meanings of 一帆风顺

yìfānfēngshùn(yi4fan1feng1shun4)
1propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)
2plain sailing
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 一帆风顺

一帆风顺Simplified
一帆風順Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#15056Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 一帆风顺

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AI study notes for 一帆风顺

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when wishing someone success in their endeavors. A common mistake is to use it inappropriately for situations that are not about journeys; it should be reserved for contexts where success and ease are desired.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 idiom, 一帆风顺 connects well with other expressions of good wishes and success. Focus on understanding its usage in context, and practice incorporating it into conversations about travel or new ventures.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse this idiom's usage by applying it to situations that involve difficulties. For instance, saying '一帆风顺' after a setback would be incorrect; rather, it should be used in positive contexts only.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 一帆风顺

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Idiom spotlight: 一帆风顺

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:one sail wind smooth

Component characters

一yīone
HSK 11 strokes一
View full entry
帆fānto gallop
HSK 76 strokes巾
View full entry
风fēngwind
HSK 34 strokes风
View full entry
顺shùnto obey
HSK 59 strokes页
View full entry

How to say propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom) in Chinese

“propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)” in Chinese is一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùn

一帆风顺 (yī fān fēng shùn) is an idiom that expresses the wish for things to go smoothly, especially during a journey or new endeavor. It literally means 'with a sail and favorable winds', indicating a journey that encounters no obstacles and proceeds without difficulty.

When to use 一帆风顺

This idiom is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly when wishing someone success in their endeavors. A common mistake is to use it inappropriately for situations that are not about journeys; it should be reserved for contexts where success and ease are desired.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse this idiom's usage by applying it to situations that involve difficulties. For instance, saying '一帆风顺' after a setback would be incorrect; rather, it should be used in positive contexts only.

Write 一帆风顺

一
帆
风
顺

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Grammar patterns of 一帆风顺

一帆风顺 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. It carries 4 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

孕期并非____,这不,又出现问题了。

Pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing and once again there were problems.

Example sentences for 一帆风顺 (10)

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ipropitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)8
1
孕期并非一帆风顺,这不,又出现问题了。

yùn qī bìngfēi yìfānfēngshùn, zhè bù, yòu chūxiàn wèntí le。

Pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing and once again there were problems.
2
我想不起我的生活中有任何一帆风顺的事情。

wǒ xiǎng bù qǐ wǒ de shēnghuó zhōng yǒu rènhé yìfānfēngshùn de shìqing。

I can't think of anything in my life that's going right.
3
毕业后,她的事业发展得一帆风顺,令人羡慕。

Bìyè hòu, tā de shìyè fāzhǎn de yìfānfēngshùn, lìngrén xiànmù.

After graduation, her career developed smoothly, making others envious.
4
他本以为新项目会一帆风顺,但没想到遇到了许多挑战。

Tā běn yǐwéi xīn xiàngmù huì yìfānfēngshùn, dàn méixiǎngdào yùdàole xǔduō tiǎozhàn.

He initially thought the new project would go smoothly, but unexpectedly faced many challenges.
5
虽然刚开始时有些波折,但他们的婚姻生活总体上是一帆风顺的。

Suīrán gāng kāishǐ shí yǒuxiē bōzhé, dàn tāmen de hūnyīn shēnghuó zǒngtǐ shàng shì yīfān fēng shùn de.

Although there were some ups and downs at first, their married life has generally been smooth sailing.
6
他的新书出版后销售情况一帆风顺,让出版社非常满意。

Tā de xīn shū chūbǎn hòu xiāoshòu qíngkuàng yīfān fēng shùn, ràng chūbǎnshè fēicháng mǎnyì.

After his new book was published, the sales went smoothly, which satisfied the publisher greatly.
7
在导师的帮助下,她的研究项目进展得一帆风顺。

Zài dǎoshī de bāngzhù xià, tā de yánjiū xiàngmù jìnzhǎn de yīfān fēng shùn.

With the help of her mentor, her research project progressed smoothly.
8
他希望这次的公路旅行能一帆风顺,没有任何意外。

Tā xīwàng zhè cì de gōnglù lǚxíng néng yīfān fēng shùn, méiyǒu rènhé yìwài.

He hopes that this road trip will be smooth sailing, without any unexpected incidents.
iplain sailing2
9
尽管创业初期困难重重,但后来公司发展得一帆风顺。

Jǐnguǎn chuàngyè chūqī kùnnán chóngchóng, dàn hòulái gōngsī fāzhǎn de yìfānfēngshùn.

Although the early stage of the startup was full of difficulties, the company later developed smoothly.
10
他以为留学生活会一帆风顺,但实际情况远比预期复杂。

Tā yǐwéi liúxué shēnghuó huì yìfānfēngshùn, dàn shíjì qíngkuàng yuǎn bǐ yùqī fùzá.

He thought his study abroad experience would be plain sailing, but the reality was far more complicated than expected.

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Frequently asked questions about 一帆风顺

Yes, you can use 一帆风顺 to wish someone success in any endeavor, including personal projects.

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