# 不胫而走

bù jìng ér zǒu

Spread rapidly without deliberate transport

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Travel without legs

**Traditional Chinese:** 不脛而走

**Register:** Descriptive · formal

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe news or ideas spreading widely.

Can describe rumors without endorsing their truth.

## Understanding the expression

Legs make movement possible, yet the phrase imagines something traveling with none. Words and information can pass from person to person without a formal delivery system. Modern use describes news, rumors, stories, or ideas spreading quickly. It may express surprise that private information became public. The speed of circulation does not confirm accuracy. A false claim can travel just as readily as a carefully checked report if people keep repeating it.

## Examples

喜讯很快不胫而走。

### Traditional Chinese

喜訊很快不脛而走。

xǐ xùn hěn kuài bù jìng ér zǒu 。

The good news spread quickly.

裁员传闻不胫而走。

### Traditional Chinese

裁員傳聞不脛而走。

cái yuán chuán wén bù jìng ér zǒu 。

The layoff rumor circulated rapidly.

她获奖的消息不胫而走。

### Traditional Chinese

她獲獎的消息不脛而走。

tā huò jiǎng de xiāo xī bù jìng ér zǒu 。

News of her award spread widely.

未经证实的说法也会不胫而走。

### Traditional Chinese

未經證實的說法也會不脛而走。

wèi jīng zhèng shí de shuō fǎ yě huì bù jìng ér zǒu 。

Unverified claims can also spread rapidly.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E8%84%9B%E8%80%8C%E8%B5%B0)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=174&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [不可救药 bù kě jiù yào Seem beyond remedy or correction ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-ke-jiu-yao)

- [不翼而飞 bù yì ér fēi Disappear mysteriously or spread rapidly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-yi-er-fei)

- [沧海桑田 cāng hǎi sāng tián Enormous changes over a long period ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cang-hai-sang-tian)

- [层出不穷 céng chū bù qióng Appear repeatedly in an ongoing succession ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ceng-chu-bu-qiong)

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