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东奔西走

東奔西走
dōngbēn-xīzǒu
idiom HSK 7-9 #44,243

Meanings

  1. 1 to rush about; to bustle around
  2. 2 to run here and there

Characters

东
dōng
east
奔
bēn
to rush; to run
西
xī
west
走
zǒu
to walk; to go
Running east and walking west — rushing about in all directions.

Examples

他为了找工作东奔西走。
Tā wèile zhǎo gōngzuò dōngbēnxīzǒu.
He rushed around everywhere looking for a job.
她每天东奔西走，忙得不得了。
Tā měitiān dōngbēnxīzǒu, máng de bùdéliǎo.
She rushes around every day, incredibly busy.

Tips

memory
Picture someone literally running east then walking west, then east again — they're so busy they can't stay in one place.
usage
Similar idioms with the 东...西... pattern: 东张西望 (look around), 东拼西凑 (scrape together from all sides).

Stroke Order

东 dōng
奔 bēn
西 xī
走 zǒu