起飞
qǐ fēi
(of an aircraft or rocket) to take off; to lift off
(fig.) (of an enterprise etc) to start to develop rapidly
rise (起) + fly (飞) = lift off and take flight
起 pairs the idea of moving on foot (走) with a phonetic hint from 己, together evoking something that rises and sets out. 飞 traces back to the image of a bird mid-wingbeat, so the word pictures something that stirs into motion and then takes to the air.
飞机准备起飞，请系好安全带。
fēi jī zhǔn bèi qǐ fēi，qǐng jì hǎo ān quán dài。
The plane is about to take off, please fasten your seatbelt.
这家公司近几年发展很快，真的起飞了。
zhè jiā gōng sī jìn jǐ nián fā zhǎn hěn kuài，zhēn de qǐ fēi le。
This company has developed very fast in the past few years — it has really taken off.