不胫而走
不胫而走 (bù jìng ér zǒu) literally means “without legs yet walks” and expresses “spread widely and rapidly on its own”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: bu jing er zou, bu jing er zou,不胫而走 meaning, 不胫而走 in english
Spread widely and rapidly on its own
Pronunciation: bù jìng ér zǒu
Literal meaning: Without legs yet walks
Origin & Usage
This mysterious idiom describes something that walks/spreads (走) without (不) legs (胫), originating from Han Dynasty discussions of information dissemination. It first appeared in texts describing how news traveled rapidly through informal networks despite official efforts to control communication. The paradoxical image of legless movement created a powerful metaphor for seemingly supernatural spread. During the Tang Dynasty, historical records used it to describe how imperial court news reached border regions with surprising speed. Modern usage primarily describes rapid information spread - from rumors to viral content - emphasizing the autonomous, difficult-to-control nature of such transmission across social networks.
Examples
English: "The rumor spread throughout the organization without any official announcement"
Chinese: 谣言在没有任何官方宣布的情况下传遍了整个组织
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不胫而走 mean in English?
不胫而走 (bù jìng ér zǒu) literally translates to “Without legs yet walks” and is used to express “Spread widely and rapidly on its own”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 不胫而走 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving spread widely and rapidly on its own.
What is the pinyin for 不胫而走?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不胫而走 is “bù jìng ér zǒu”.