奔忙 (bēn máng) — to bustle about; to be busy rushing around

Definition

奔忙 (bēn máng) paints the image of hurrying and rushing while busy — emphasizes the frenzied movement, not just being occupied. Pairs well with 为/为了 to show the cause driving the rush.

verb
to bustle aboutto be busy rushing around

Examples

  • 奔忙。
    Tā měi tiān wèi shēng huó bēn máng.
    He bustles about for a living every day.
  • 奔忙。
    Tā zài chéng shì lǐ bēn máng le yì tiān.
    She bustled about in the city for a whole day.
  • 奔忙。
    Rén men wèi le mèng xiǎng ér bēn máng.
    People bustle about for their dreams.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

奔bēnrush
忙mángbusy

奔 rushing and 忙 busy together describe being busy moving about.

Characters in this word

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
亡
亡wáng忙máng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

忙 pairs 忄 (heart) with 亡, which gives the sound.

Open 忙 →

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