hei2 fei1起飛起飞
Jyutpinghei2 fei1
Yalehéi fēi
Definition
To take off; to depart and start flying.
neutraltransport
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the moment an aircraft leaves the ground. While it can metaphorically refer to a business or project starting to succeed rapidly, it is primarily used for aviation. Unlike some other verbs, it does not take an object directly, so you cannot say someone is taking off a plane.
Examples
What time does the plane take off?
The flight we are taking has already taken off.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean starting a journey by car or train, as it is strictly reserved for aircraft. For other modes of transport, use 出發 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
