Definition
不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) is a set phrase meaning 'to do or think the same thing without prior arrangement.' It emphasizes that multiple people spontaneously act or think in unison. 巧 (qiǎo) is a broader adjective meaning 'coincidental, opportune, or clever'; 不约而同 specifically describes the simultaneous independent action/thought, not just the fact that it's coincidental.
idiom
to do or think the same thing without prior consultationcoincidentallyspontaneously in unison
Examples
- 不约而同。Dàjiā bù yuē ér tóng de xiào le qǐlái.Everyone laughed at the same time without prior arrangement.
- 不约而同。Tāmen bù yuē ér tóng xuǎnzé le tóng yí gè zhuānyè.They independently chose the same major.
- 不约而同。Wǒmen bù yuē ér tóng xiǎng qǐ le nà jiàn wǎngshì.We all thought of that past event at the same time.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.