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东躲西藏 (dōng duǒ xī cáng) — to hide from place to place; to be on the run; to dodge about

Definition

A vivid set phrase meaning to flee and hide all over the place, often used for fugitives or people avoiding responsibility. The repeating 东…西… structure (here/there) gives it an emphatic, literary flavor.

verb
to hide from place to placeto be on the runto dodge about

Examples

  • ，东躲西藏。
    Tā wèi le duǒ bì zhuī bǔ, yì zhí zài wài miàn dōng duǒ xī cáng.
    He has been on the run outside, hiding from place to place to avoid capture.
  • 东躲西藏，。
    Xiǎo tōu dōng duǒ xī cáng, zuì hòu hái shì bèi jǐng chá zhuā zhù le.
    The thief dodged from place to place but was finally caught by the police.
  • 东躲西藏，。
    Bié dōng duǒ xī cáng le, chū lái bǎ wèn tí shuō qīng chǔ.
    Stop dodging around — come out and explain the issue clearly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

东躲hide eastward
东dōngeast躲duǒhide
偏正Modifier + head
西藏hide westward
西xīwest藏cánghide
偏正Modifier + head

东 and 西 give directions, while 躲 and 藏 mean hide, together suggesting evading here and there.

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 →

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
身身shēnbody
Sound part声符shēngfú
朵
朵duǒ躲duǒ
Same sound today

躲 uses 身 to show a body and 朵 to give the sound; 朵 is also noted as "to move".

Open 躲 →

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
臧
臧zāng藏cáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Open 藏 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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