闻风而动
wén fēng ér dòng
to spring into action as soon as one hears the news
Character by character
闻wén
hear
hear
风fēng
wind
wind
而ér
and
and
动dòng
move
move
Example
听说新楼盘要开盘，不少想买房的人闻风而动，连夜赶去排队。
Hearing that the new flats were going on sale, many would-be buyers sprang into action and went to queue overnight.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
风 here is news or rumour. Praise for a quick response (各部门闻风而动，迅速投入救灾) or a wry look at a crowd rushing after the latest thing. Compare 一窝蜂 (lesson 1-16), which is always critical of blind herding.
Learn this in Lesson 137 · HSK 7–9: 淄博烧烤 (The Zibo barbecue craze)
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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