扶摇直上

扶搖直上

fúyáo-zhíshàng

idiom #40,184

Meanings

1 to soar straight up on the whirlwind
2 to rise rapidly
3 to skyrocket (in career, price, reputation)

Characters

to support (here: as part of 扶摇)

to shake (扶摇 = whirlwind)

straight, directly

Examples

HSK 6

这家公司的股价扶摇直上，吸引了大批投资者。

Zhè jiā gōngsī de gǔjià fúyáo-zhíshàng, xīyǐn le dàpī tóuzīzhě.

The company's stock price has been soaring, attracting a large number of investors.

HSK 7-9

他的事业近年来扶摇直上。

Tā de shìyè jìnniánlái fúyáo-zhíshàng.

His career has been skyrocketing in recent years.

HSK 7-9

年轻导演凭借这部电影，名气扶摇直上。

Niánqīng dǎoyǎn píngjiè zhèbù diànyǐng, míngqì fúyáo-zhíshàng.

The young director's fame skyrocketed thanks to this film.

Tips

history

From Zhuangzi's 《逍遥游》: 抟扶摇而上者九万里, the great Peng bird rises on the whirlwind (扶摇) ninety thousand li. Li Bai quoted the image in 《上李邕》: 大鹏一日同风起，扶摇直上九万里. 扶摇 specifically names a spiraling upward wind.

usage

Almost always positive: career, prices, reputation, rankings. Occasionally slightly ironic when paired with undeserved advancement. For purely neutral 'rise,' use 上升; 扶摇直上 implies speed and height.

Stroke Order

扶 fú

摇 yáo

直 zhí

上 shàng