一跃而起 (yī yuè ér qǐ) — to spring to one's feet; to jump up suddenly (from sitting or lying down)

Definition

A vivid, set phrase meaning to spring or leap up suddenly from a sitting or lying position — often a reaction of excitement, alarm, or urgency.

verb
to spring to one's feetto jump up suddenly (from sitting or lying down)

Examples

  • 一跃而起，：“！”
    Tā yī yuè ér qǐ, xīng fèn dì hǎn dào: "wǒ men yíng le!"
    He sprang to his feet and shouted excitedly, 'We won!'
  • ，一跃而起，。
    Tīng dào jǐng bào, shì bīng men yī yuè ér qǐ, zhǔn bèi chū fā.
    Hearing the alarm, the soldiers jumped to their feet and prepared to set out.
  • 一跃而起，。
    Tā cóng shā fā shàng yī yuè ér qǐ, chōng xiàng mén kǒu.
    She sprang up from the sofa and rushed to the door.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 躍; 跃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
翟
翟zhái躍yuè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 躍 pairs 足 (foot) with 翟, which gives the pronunciation; the simplified 跃 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original components.

Open 跃 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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