健步如飞
jiàn bù rú fēi
to walk briskly, as if flying
Character by character
健jiàn
vigorous
vigorous
步bù
stride
stride
如rú
like
like
飞fēi
flying
flying
Example
我奶奶七十多岁了，爬山还健步如飞，年轻人都跟不上。
My grandmother is over seventy, yet she flies up mountains and the young ones can’t keep up.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Praise for vigour, especially in older people or someone back on their feet after illness. 健步 is a brisk stride, as in 健步走, fitness walking.
Learn this in Lesson 114 · HSK 7–9: 国家喊你减肥 (Data story: the state wants you to lose weight)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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