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

HSK 5

大家不约而同地鼓起掌来。

Dàjiā bùyuē'értóng de gǔqǐ zhǎng lái.

Everyone spontaneously started clapping.

HSK 5

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