插翅难飞
插翅难飞 (chā chì nán fēi) literally means “add wings difficult fly” and expresses “utterly impossible to escape”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: cha chi nan fei, cha chi nan fei,插翅难飞 meaning, 插翅难飞 in english
Utterly impossible to escape
Pronunciation: chā chì nán fēi Literal meaning: Add wings difficult fly
Origin & Usage
Even fitting (插) wings (翅) on would not make escape possible (难飞). It belongs to vernacular fiction, where it describes a surrounded fugitive rather than a legal or architectural fact. The hyperbole is the point: the situation is not merely difficult to escape but closed against a power the subject does not have. It describes a trap that has already closed, and it is usually said by whoever closed it.
Examples
English: "The criminal found escape impossible despite elaborate plans"
Chinese: 尽管有精心策划,罪犯发现逃脱是不可能的
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
忍俊不禁
rěn jùn bù jīn
Unable to hide amusement
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两肋插刀
liǎng lèi chā dāo
Extreme loyalty
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众口铄金
zhòng kǒu shuò jīn
Repeated by enough people, a falsehood passes for truth
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笑里藏刀
xiào lǐ cáng dāo
Hide malice behind smile
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蚁穴坏堤
yǐ xué huài dī
Small problems cause disaster
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不胫而走
bù jìng ér zǒu
Spread widely and rapidly on its own
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追本溯源
zhuī běn sù yuán
Trace back to source
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披荆斩棘
pī jīng zhǎn jí
Overcome all obstacles
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 插翅难飞 mean in English?
插翅难飞 (chā chì nán fēi) literally translates to “Add wings difficult fly” and is used to express “Utterly impossible to escape”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 插翅难飞 used?
Situation: The criminal found escape impossible despite elaborate plans
What is the pinyin for 插翅难飞?
The pinyin pronunciation for 插翅难飞 is “chā chì nán fēi”.
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