# 风驰电掣

fēng chí diàn chè

Move with extraordinary speed

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Race like wind and flash like lightning

**Traditional Chinese:** 風馳電掣

**Register:** Emphatic · general

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

## When to use it

Describe very rapid travel or motion.

Emphatic, often unsuitable as literal praise of unsafe driving.

## Understanding the expression

Wind and lightning provide two images of motion too fast to follow comfortably. The expression gives a vivid sense of speed, especially for vehicles or riders. It describes the impression of movement rather than a measurable rate. A train rushing past can fit naturally, while a person completing paperwork may need a different expression. When the context involves driving, speed should not automatically be treated as admirable if it creates danger.

## Examples

列车风驰电掣地驶过。

### Traditional Chinese

列車風馳電掣地駛過。

liè chē fēng chí diàn chè dì shǐ guò 。

The train rushed past at great speed.

骑手风驰电掣地冲向终点。

### Traditional Chinese

騎手風馳電掣地衝向終點。

qí shǒu fēng chí diàn chè dì chōng xiàng zhōng diǎn 。

The rider raced toward the finish.

汽车风驰电掣，转眼不见了。

### Traditional Chinese

汽車風馳電掣，轉眼不見了。

qì chē fēng chí diàn chè ， zhuǎn yǎn bú jiàn le 。

The car sped away and vanished.

镜头拍下快艇风驰电掣的瞬间。

### Traditional Chinese

鏡頭拍下快艇風馳電掣的瞬間。

jìng tóu pāi xià kuài tǐng fēng chí diàn chè de shùn jiān 。

The camera captured the speedboat racing across the water.

## 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=%E9%A2%A8%E9%A6%B3%E9%9B%BB%E6%8E%A3)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=469&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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