飞
fēi · HSK 1
to fly
✈️ Pictograph of a bird with outstretched wings taking off
The traditional form 飛 shows a bird's body with two upswept wings. Modern 飞 keeps just one wing plus the rising tail. Common in 飞机 (fēijī) = fly + machine = airplane.
飞 — pictograph of a bird in flight (wings + body)
飞 is a pictograph originally depicting a bird soaring with outstretched wings, with the upper stroke suggesting the head and the curved strokes representing wings and tail. The traditional form 飛 shows the wings more clearly; 飞 is the simplified version retaining just one wing-like element. Its core meaning 'to fly' has stayed stable throughout history.