奔走相告 (bēn zǒu xiāng gào) — to rush around spreading the news; to pass the word from one to another excitedly

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'to rush around spreading the news' when something big (good or bad) happens. The tone is excited and urgent — people can't wait to tell each other.

idiom
to rush around spreading the newsto pass the word from one to another excitedly

Examples

  • ，奔走相告，。
    Hǎo xiāo xi chuán lái, dà jiā bēn zǒu xiāng gào, hěn kuài jiù quán chéng dōu zhī dào le.
    When the good news came, everyone rushed around telling each other, and soon the whole city knew.
  • ，奔走相告，。
    Dì zhèn fā shēng hòu, cūn mín men bēn zǒu xiāng gào, hù xiāng tí xǐng zhù yì ān quán.
    After the earthquake, the villagers ran around spreading the news, reminding each other to stay safe.
  • 奔走相告，。
    Bǐ sài shèng lì de xiāo xi ràng qiú mí men bēn zǒu xiāng gào, zhěng gè tǐ yù chǎng dōu fèi téng le.
    The news of the game victory made the fans rush to tell each other, and the whole stadium erupted.

Origin

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 →

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 →

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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

The origin is unclear: one theory sees 告 as 壴 (a decorated drum) above 口 (an open mouth), while another sees a tongue sticking out of 口.

Open 告 →

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