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东奔西走 (dōng bēn xī zǒu) — to rush about busily; to bustle about (idiom)

Definition

Chengyu meaning to rush around busily in all directions, usually for work or to make a living. The east–west pairing emphasizes the scattered, nonstop movement.

phrase
to rush about busilyto bustle about (idiom)

Examples

  • ，东奔西走。
    Wèi le shēng huó, tā měi tiān dōng bēn xī zǒu.
    He rushes about every day to make a living.
  • 东奔西走，。
    Zhè xiē nián tā dōng bēn xī zǒu, zhōng yú yǒu le zì jǐ de gōng sī.
    After years of rushing about, he finally started his own company.
  • 东奔西走，。
    Mā ma wèi le jiā tíng dōng bēn xī zǒu, cóng bú bào yuàn.
    Mom bustles about for the family and never complains.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

东奔run east
东dōngeast奔bēnrun
偏正Modifier + head
西走walk west
西xīwest走zǒuwalk
偏正Modifier + head

东奔 shows running east and 西走 shows walking west, together meaning rushing about.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 东 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

奔 combines 人 (person) and 止 (foot), giving the picture of a person moving on foot.

Open 奔 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 西 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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