不约而同

不約而同

bùyuē'értóng

idiom HSK 7-9 #54,287

Meanings

1 to take the same action independently
2 as if by prior agreement
3 simultaneously without planning

Characters

to arrange; appointment

Literally: 'without arranging yet the same' — coincidentally doing the same thing.

Examples

大家不约而同地鼓起掌来。

Dàjiā bùyuē'értóng de gǔqǐ zhǎng lái.

Everyone spontaneously started clapping.

我们不约而同地选了同一家餐厅。

Wǒmen bùyuē'értóng de xuǎn le tóngyī jiā cāntīng.

We independently chose the same restaurant.

Stroke Order

不 bù

约 yuē

而 ér

同 tóng