跑腿 (pǎo tuǐ) — to run errands, to do legwork | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'run legs' — a vivid verb for running errands, delivering small items, or doing legwork for someone. The verb can reduplicate (跑跑腿) to mean 'just run a quick errand'.

verb

to run errandsto do legwork

Examples

跑腿。
Tā měi tiān dōu yào bāng lǎo bǎn pǎo tuǐ.
He has to run errands for his boss every day.
，。
Wǒ pǎo le yí tàng tuǐ, bǎ cái liào sòng dào le.
I ran an errand and delivered the materials.
，。
Zhè fèn gōng zuò jiù shì pǎo pǎo tuǐ, méi shén me nán dù.
This job is just running errands, nothing difficult.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

跑 is to run and 腿 is the legs, giving the image of running on legs for errands.

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.

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.

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

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

退

退tuì腿tuǐ

Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

Appears in

Shopping & Errands

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