奔走 (bēn zǒu) — to run around spreading news (in 奔走相告); to go about lobbying/soliciting (for a job, position, or cause)

Definition

奔走 is a formal/literary verb meaning to rush about actively for a purpose — spreading news or lobbying for a cause — rather than simple physical running.

verb
to run around spreading news (in 奔走相告)to go about lobbying/soliciting (for a job, position, or cause)

Examples

  • ,。
    Xiāo xi yì chuán kāi, rén men lì jí bēn zǒu xiāng gào.
    As soon as the news spread, people immediately started running around telling each other.
  • 奔走,。
    Tā wèi zhè ge xiàng mù sì chù bēn zǒu, zhōng yú chóu dào le zī jīn.
    He went around lobbying for this project and finally raised the funds.
  • ,奔走。
    Wèi le zhǎo dào gōng zuò, tā zhěng tiān zài rén cái shì chǎng bēn zǒu.
    To find a job, he spent the whole day rushing around at the job market.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

奔 means run and 走 means walk, together expressing moving about quickly.

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 →

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