早出晚归 (zǎo chū wǎn guī) — to go out early and come back late (describing a diligent, busy person)

Definition

An idiom that paints someone as hardworking by literally describing their schedule: leaving early and returning late. Usually modifies 工作 or 生活 and carries a sympathetic, admiring tone.

idiom
to go out early and come back late (describing a diligent, busy person)

Examples

  • 早出晚归，。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo chū wǎn guī, fēi cháng xīn kǔ.
    He goes out early and returns late every day, and he's really hardworking.
  • 早出晚归，。
    Fù qīn zǎo chū wǎn guī dì gōng zuò, wèi le ràng wǒ shàng xué.
    Father works from early morning till late night to support my schooling.
  • 早出晚归，。
    Zhè yàng de zǎo chū wǎn guī shēng huó suī rán lèi, dàn hěn yǒu yì yì.
    This kind of early-out-late-return life, though tiring, is very meaningful.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
棗
棗zǎo早zǎo
Same sound today

The form 早 pairs 日 (sun) with 棗, which gives the sound; an earlier shape of 早 was a picture of an acorn.

Open 早 →

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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
日日rì
Sound part声符shēngfú
免
免miǎn晚wǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

晚 pairs 日, the sun part, with 免, which supplies the sound.

Open 晚 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歸; 归 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤ancient form of {{zh-l|*師|troops}}
  • 帚帚zhǒubroom; sweep

The traditional form 歸 combines 𠂤 (troops) and 帚 (broom; sweep) to show sweeping away an enemy and returning; the simplified 归 is a later abbreviation.

Open 归 →

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