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东奔西跑 (dōng bēn xī pǎo) — to run around frantically; to be busy rushing about; to dash back and forth (often implying wasted effort)

Definition

A vivid image of dashing every which way — running frantically from place to place, often with a sense of busy but unfocused effort. Use it to describe someone (or yourself) rushing around without clear direction.

idiom
to run around franticallyto be busy rushing aboutto dash back and forth (often implying wasted effort)

Examples

  • 东奔西跑，。
    Tā měi tiān dōng bēn xī pǎo, yě bù zhī dào zài máng shén me.
    He runs around every day, and no one knows what he's so busy with.
  • ，东奔西跑。
    Wèi le bàn zhè jiàn shì, wǒ dōng bēn xī pǎo le yì zhěng tiān.
    I spent the whole day rushing around to get this done.
  • 东奔西跑，。
    Bié dōng bēn xī pǎo le, xiān zuò xià lái xiǎng xiǎng bàn fǎ.
    Stop running around and sit down to think of a solution.

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 eastward
东dōngeast奔bēnrun
偏正Modifier + head
西跑run westward
西xīwest跑pǎorun
偏正Modifier + head

东奔 says running eastward and 西跑 says running westward, giving frantic movement in all directions.

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 →

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
包
包bāo跑pǎo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跑 combines 足, showing a foot, with 包, which gives the sound.

Open 跑 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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