飞黄腾达 — “To have a meteoric rise”
飞黄腾达 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to have a meteoric rise”. To achieve sudden and rapid success or prominence, especially in one's career or social status. Literally, “Flying Yellow (mythical steed) soars and prospers”.
飞黄腾达 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 飞fēi
- 黄huáng
- 腾téng
- 达dá
飞黄腾达 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 飞黄腾达
Origin and Story of 飞黄腾达
The idiom 'Fei Huang Teng Da' originates from a poem by Han Yu, a prominent literary figure of the Tang Dynasty and one of the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song.'
Han Yu's son, Han Fu, was known for being playful and not fond of studying in his youth. Concerned about his son's future, Han Yu penned a poem to inspire him to cultivate ambition and strive for a successful future, or to 'have a meteoric rise.'
In the poem, he contrasted different paths in life, urging his son to emulate the mythical 'Fei Huang' horse, which gallops swiftly to success, rather than being left behind like a common toad.
The lines 'At thirty, their bones are formed, one becomes a dragon, one a pig; Fei Huang gallops away, unable to look back at the toad' serve as a powerful metaphor, encouraging his son to pursue a path of achievement and distinction.
Idioms Related to 飞黄腾达
Synonyms of 飞黄腾达
More idioms starting with 飞
- fēi飞shū书zǒu走xí檄swiftly write and dispatch documents
- fēi飞yún云chè掣diàn电extremely swift like flying clouds and flashing lightning
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽lì粒swiftly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽sù粟rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍wǎn挽liáng粮rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞chú刍zhuǎn转xiǎng饷rapidly transport provisions
- fēi飞shēng升téng腾shí实Soaring fame and solid reality
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐ròu宍drive away wild animals with clods
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐hài害throw earth to drive away pests
- fēi飞tǔ土zhú逐ròu肉hunt by throwing clods of earth
- fēi飞qiáng墙zǒu走bì壁scale walls and leap roofs
- fēi飞shēng声téng腾shí实soaring reputation and solid achievements
Questions about 飞黄腾达
- What does 飞黄腾达 mean?
- 飞黄腾达 (fēi huáng téng dá) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to have a meteoric rise”.
- How do you pronounce 飞黄腾达?
- 飞黄腾达 is pronounced fēi huáng téng dá in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 飞黄腾达 literally mean?
- Literally, 飞黄腾达 means “Flying Yellow (mythical steed) soars and prospers”. It is used to mean “to have a meteoric rise”.
- Where does 飞黄腾达 come from?
- 飞黄腾达 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
- What is the Chinese definition of 飞黄腾达?
- 飞黄：传说中神马名；腾达：上升，引伸为发迹，宦途得意。形容骏马奔腾飞驰。比喻骤然得志，官职升得很快。