骛 (wù) — (bound form) to gallop; to eagerly pursue

Definition

骛 (wù) is a bound morpheme — never used alone — meaning 'to gallop after, chase eagerly,' almost always paired with 驰 as the set phrase 驰骛. It carries a tone of restless, frantic pursuit (often of fame or ideals).

bound form
to gallopto eagerly pursue
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zǒng hào gāo wù yuǎn, cóng bù jiǎo tà shí dì.
    He always reaches for the stars without being grounded.
  • ，骛，。
    Zài shāng yè jìng zhēng zhōng, yǒu de qǐ yè bù chí wù yú xū míng, zhī qiú shí xiào.
    In business competition, some companies don't gallop after empty fame, only seek practical results.
  • 骛。
    Tā de sī xù chí wù yú gǔ jīn zhī jiān.
    His thoughts gallop between ancient and modern times.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 騖; 骛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
敄
敄wù騖wù
Same sound today

The traditional form 騖 has 馬, a horse, and 敄 as a sound part; the simplified 骛 is a shorthand.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.