拂袖而去 (fú xiù ér qù) — (idiom) to leave in a huff, to storm off in anger

Definition

A vivid idiom meaning to storm off in anger — literally 'brush one's sleeve and leave.' Used in written Chinese to describe someone dramatically walking out of a confrontation.

idiom
to leave in a huffto storm off in anger

Examples

  • ，拂袖而去。
    Tā tīng le zhè huà, qì dé fú xiù ér qù.
    After hearing this, he was so angry that he stormed off.
  • ，拂袖而去。
    Huì yì hái méi jié shù, tā jiù fú xiù ér qù le.
    Before the meeting ended, he left in a huff.
  • ，拂袖而去。
    Lǎo bǎn pī píng le tā jǐ jù, tā jìng fú xiù ér qù.
    The boss criticized him a few words, and he actually stormed off.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú拂fú
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is a hand, matching actions like flicking or whisking, while 弗 gives the sound.

Open 拂 →

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
衣衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu袖
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

袖 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 由, which provides the sound.

Open 袖 →

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 →

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

去 pairs 大, a man, with 口, a mouth or object. The evidence reads this as a man leaving a place, a man opening his mouth, or a cover over an object.

Open 去 →

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