不约而同

Traditional form:

不約而同

Pinyin (reading):

bùyuē'értóng

Definitions:

• (idiom) (of two or more people) to take the same action without prior consultation; (usu. used adverbially) all (or both) of them, independently; as if by prior agreement

Characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 约 - treaty, covenant, agreement
• 而 - and, and then, and yet; but
• 同 - same, similar; together with, alike

Traditional characters:

• 不 - no, not, un-; negative prefix
• 約 - treaty, covenant, agreement
• 而 - and, and then, and yet; but
• 同 - same, similar; together with, alike