忙 (máng) — busy (adjective); to hurry, to rush (verb)

Definition

忙 (máng) is the everyday HSK 1 word for 'busy' — describes a person having a lot to do, not a place. 忙碌 is a more written/formal upgrade for the same idea; 赶忙 is the adverb form meaning 'hurriedly'.

busy (adjective)to hurryto rush (verb)

Examples

忙？
Nǐ máng shén me?
What are you busy with?
忙。
Tā jīn tiān hěn máng.
He is very busy today.
忙。
Wǒ bù máng.
I am not busy.

Origin

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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

忄亡忙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

亡

亡wáng忙máng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

忙 pairs 忄 (heart) with 亡, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 1 500 Most Frequent Chinese Words HSK 2.0 Level 2 1000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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