諺語 · a single proverb
天外飛來
Simplified: 天外飞来
What does 天外飛來 (tiān wài fēi lái) mean?
天外飛來 (tiān wài fēi lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "flying in from beyond the sky." In use it means: Something completely unexpected arriving without warning; a surprise so total it seems to come from another dimension. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dragon.
Literally: "flying in from beyond the sky."
The reading
You were not looking up. Nobody was. The thing arrived from a direction that was not on anyone's map, and now the entire situation is different. Preparation is valuable, but it cannot cover every angle, because some angles have not been invented yet.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common literary expression; from the phrase 天外飛來之筆
Sits beside
冬至陽生春又來
dōng zhì yáng shēng chūn yòu lái
At the darkest moment of winter, yang energy is reborn and spring begins its return.
夜長夢多
yè cháng mèng duō
Delay leads to complications.
太公釣魚，願者上鉤
tài gōng diào yú yuàn zhě shàng gōu
The best way to attract people is not through trickery but through genuine worth.
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Timing & Fortune's Turning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 天外飛來 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 天外飛來 (tiān wài fēi lái) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Common literary expression; from the phrase 天外飛來之筆. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 天外飛來?
In Mandarin it is tiān wài fēi lái. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 天外飛來 aloud in Mandarin.