TongTong
Sign in

活蹦乱跳 (huó bèng luàn tiào) — alive and kicking, full of vitality and energy; (of children or animals) lively and active; jumping and hopping about

Definition

A vivid 成语 meaning 'full of life and bouncing with energy,' used for lively children, animals, or even unexpectedly energetic older people. Pairs with 可爱, 健康, or 年轻 in tone.

idiom
alive and kickingfull of vitality and energy(of children or animals) lively and activejumping and hopping about

Examples

  • 活蹦乱跳，。
    Nà ge xiǎo péng yǒu zài cāo chǎng shàng huó bèng luàn tiào, wán dé hěn kāi xīn.
    That little kid is running and jumping around the playground, having a great time.
  • 活蹦乱跳，。
    Zhè tiáo xiǎo yú zài yú gāng lǐ huó bèng luàn tiào, kàn qǐ lái tè bié jiàn kāng.
    This little fish is swimming energetically in the tank, looking very healthy.
  • ，活蹦乱跳，。
    Suī rán tā yǐ jīng qī shí suì le, dàn měi tiān dōu huó bèng luàn tiào de, xiàng gè nián qīng rén.
    Although he is already seventy years old, he is still full of energy every day, like a young person.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

活蹦lively jumping
活huóalive蹦bèngjump
偏正Modifier + head
乱跳wild hopping
乱luànwildly跳tiàohop
偏正Modifier + head

活 adds a lively sense, while 蹦 and 跳 describe jumping about; 乱 adds disorderly energy.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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
𧾷Written in full as足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
崩
崩bēng蹦bèng
Same sound today

蹦 has a foot part 𧾷 (written full as 足) for jumping and a right part 崩 for sound.

Open 蹦 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 亂; 乱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乚Written in full as乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
𤔔
𤔔𤔔亂luàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 亂 contains 𤔔, a drawing of combing tangled threads, and 乙; the simplified 乱 is only a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 乱 →

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.