灰飞烟灭 huī fēi yān miè

fig. to be annihilated; to vanish in a puff of smoke

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 20228th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to be annihilated
  2. 2. to vanish in a puff of smoke
  3. 3. lit. scattered ashes and dispersed smoke (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
灰 huī HSK 5
gray; ash; dust
飞 fēi HSK 1
to fly
烟 yān HSK 4
smoke; cigarette or pipe tobacco; mist
灭 miè HSK 6
to extinguish or put out; to go out (of a fire etc)