逃之夭夭 (táo zhī yāo yāo) — to make a getaway; to slip away (often humorous…

Definition

Humorous/derogatory idiom for slipping away — the classical 之 gives it a literary, mocking tone rather than the plain 逃走.

idiom

to make a getawayto slip away (often humorously or derogatorily)

，逃之夭夭。
Xiǎo tōu chèn méi rén zhù yì, zǎo jiù táo zhī yāo yāo le.
The thief slipped away unnoticed long ago.
，逃之夭夭，。
Tā qiàn le yí pì gu zhài, zuì hòu táo zhī yāo yāo, shuí yě zhǎo bú dào tā.
He owed a huge debt and finally disappeared, leaving no one able to find him.
，逃之夭夭，。
Huì yì hái méi jié shù, tā jiù táo zhī yāo yāo le, zhēn shì méi lǐ mào.
He slipped away before the meeting ended — so rude.

Characters in this word

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

辶兆逃

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

兆

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

逃 pairs 辶 (walk) with 兆, which gives the pronunciation.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

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

夭 was drawn as a figure leaning forward, as if running, and this picture is linked to energy and youth.

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

夭 was drawn as a figure leaning forward, as if running, and this picture is linked to energy and youth.

Appears in