忙活 (máng huo) — to be busy (with chores or work); to be occupie… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

忙活 (mánghuo) is colloquial for being busy with hands-on tasks or chores — usually with an object (忙活了一天). Sibling 占线 is only for phone lines being engaged.

verb

to be busy (with chores or work)to be occupiedto be engaged in tasks

Examples

忙活，。
Wǒ zuì jìn tài máng huo le, lián zhōu mò dōu méi yǒu xiū xi.
I've been so busy lately that I haven't even rested on weekends.
忙活，。
Tā máng huo le yì tiān, zhōng yú bǎ fáng jiān shōu shi hǎo le.
He was busy all day and finally got the room cleaned up.
忙活，。
Bié máng huo le, xiān chī wǔ fàn ba.
Stop being busy; let's have lunch first.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

忙 expresses being busy and 活 points to work, giving the idea of being occupied with tasks.

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.

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.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Daily Routine Workplace & Office

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