verb HSK 4
Traditional 起飛
to take off (aircraft) · to lift off
Meaning
起飞 literally means 'to rise and fly' and primarily refers to an aircraft leaving the ground and beginning flight. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something rapidly developing or improving, such as a career or economy 'taking off'.
Usage
Commonly used in aviation contexts and travel situations. When discussing flight schedules, natives often say 'the plane takes off at X time' (飞机X点起飞). The metaphorical usage has become popular in recent years, especially in business and personal development contexts.
Examples
- 01我们的航班将在下午三点起飞。.Our flight will take off at 3 PM.
- 02飞机刚刚起飞，请系好安全带。, .The plane has just taken off, please fasten your seatbelt.
Characters
Common collocations
- 准时起飞to take off on time
- 延误起飞delayed takeoff
- 起飞时间takeoff time
- 即将起飞about to take off
Antonyms
Origin
Compound word combining 起 (to rise) and 飞 (to fly), directly describing the action of an aircraft rising into flight.