📖 Meaning
To rise or soar suddenly into the sky or high air. It describes something ascending rapidly upward from the ground, often used for objects, animals, or even abstract forces lifting off with great energy.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Qing dynasty novel Sui Tang Yanyi (Romance of Sui and Tang) by Chu Renhuo, in its third chapter. In the story, Li Jing attempts to detain a mysterious woman, but she turns her horse around and the horse immediately soars into the air, vanishing in an instant. The vivid image of the horse launching skyward gave rise to this expression.
💡 Example Usage
火箭点火后腾空而起，直冲云霄。
After ignition, the rocket soared into the sky, shooting straight through the clouds.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 腾空而起
- Pinyin: téng kōng ér qǐ
- Literal Translation: soar, sky, and, rise
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4