Usage note
起飞可以用来描述飞机、火箭等从地面或发射台离开的情景。
qǐfēi kěyǐ láiyòng xǔshuō fēijī、huǒqiú dìng cóng dàodì huòfāshè tái liáokuǎn qíngjǐng。
起飞 can be used to describe the scenario where airplanes or rockets leave the ground or launchpad.
Context note
起飞常见于机场、火箭发射基地等地方，也可以用于比喻开始或启动某项工作或活动。
qǐfēi chángjiàn yú jīchǎng、huǒqiú fāshè dìbèi dìfāng、yě kěyǐ yòng yǔ bǐyù kāishǐ huò qǚdá mǒqiàng gōngruò huò dòngzuò。
起飞 is commonly found in airports, rocket launch bases, and can also be used to metaphorically describe starting or initiating a project or activity.
5 examples
飞机起飞了。
fēi jī qǐ fēi le。
The airplane took off.
火箭从发射台起飞。
huǒ jiàn cóng fā shè tái qǐ fēi。
The rocket took off from the launchpad.
他终于起飞了，开始了自己的事业。
tā zhōng yú qǐ fēi le， kāi shǐ le zì jǐ de shì yè。
He finally took off and started his own career.
这个项目已经起飞，进展顺利。
zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng qǐ fēi， jìn zhǎn shùn lì。
This project has taken off and is progressing smoothly.
他决定从现在开始起飞自己的事业。
tā jué dìng cóng xiàn zài kāi shǐ qǐ fēi zì jǐ de shì yè。
He decided to start his own career from now on.
5 mini stories
小明的飞机模型起飞了，飞得很高。
xiǎo míng de fēi jī mó xíng qǐ fēi le， fēi dé hěn gāo。
Xiaoming's airplane model took off and flew very high.
火箭发射成功，顺利起飞。
huǒ jiàn fā shè chéng gōng， shùn lì qǐ fēi。
The rocket launch was successful, it took off smoothly.
他决定从现在开始起飞自己的事业。
tā jué dìng cóng xiàn zài kāi shǐ qǐ fēi zì jǐ de shì yè。
He decided to start his own career from now on.
这个项目已经起飞，进展顺利。
zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng qǐ fēi， jìn zhǎn shùn lì。
This project has taken off and is progressing smoothly.
飞机在跑道上加速，然后起飞了。
fēi jī zài pǎo dào shàng jiā sù， rán hòu qǐ fēi le。
The airplane accelerated on the runway, then took off.
Mini dialogue
看飞机
A
你看，飞机要起飞了！
Nǐ kàn, fēijī yào qǐfēi le!
Look, the plane is about to take off!
B
哇，它起飞得好快！
Wa, tā qǐfēi de hǎo kuài!
Wow, it takes off so fast!
小鸟学飞
A
小鸟什么时候能起飞？
Xiǎo niǎo shénme shíhou néng qǐfēi?
When can the little bird take off?
B
它再练习几天就能起飞了。
Tā zài liànxí jǐ tiān jiù néng qǐfēi le.
It can take off after a few more days of practice.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
降落
jiàngluò
to land
The action of coming down to the ground, opposite of taking off.
related
飞行
fēixíng
to fly
The action of moving through the air after taking off.