不约而同

不約而同

bùyuēértóng

idiom HSK 7 #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 bùyuēértóng de gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái.

Everyone spontaneously started clapping.

我们不约而同地选了同一家餐厅。

Wǒmen bùyuēértóng de xuǎn le tóng yī jiā cāntīng.

We independently chose the same restaurant.

Stroke Order

不 bù

约 yuē

而 ér

同 tóng