南来北往

南來北往

nánlái-běiwǎng

idiom #87,671

Meanings

1 coming from the south, going to the north
2 travelers passing through from all directions
3 constant comings and goings

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

他在火车站工作多年，见过南来北往的各种人。

Tā zài huǒchēzhàn gōngzuò duōnián, jiàn guò nánlái-běiwǎng de gèzhǒng rén.

He's worked at the train station for years and has seen every kind of traveler pass through.

HSK 5

这家小店开在路口，南来北往的旅客都在这里歇脚。

Zhè jiā xiǎodiàn kāi zài lùkǒu, nánlái-běiwǎng de lǚkè dōu zài zhèlǐ xiējiǎo.

This little inn sits at a crossroads, and travelers from all directions stop here to rest.

HSK 7-9

码头上南来北往的船只络绎不绝。

Mǎtóu shàng nánlái-běiwǎng de chuánzhī luòyì-bùjué.

At the dock, ships coming and going in every direction never let up.

Tips

history

Found in Li Xingdao's Yuan-dynasty drama 《灰阑记》 ('Chalk Circle'): a tavern keeper boasts that 南来北往 merchants and travelers all come to drink at her shop. Snapshot of a Yuan-era highway inn.

usage

Almost always used to describe traffic of people through a place - stations, ports, markets, crossroads. Implies variety as much as movement.

Stroke Order

南 nán

来 lái

北 běi

往 wǎng