拼命

pīnmìng

adverb HSK 7-9 #4,117

Meanings

HSK 1

别拼命了，身体最重要。

Bié pīnmìng le, shēntǐ zuì zhòngyào.

Don't push yourself so hard; health is most important.

HSK 6

他拼命地跑，终于赶上了公交车。

Tā pīnmìng de pǎo, zhōngyú gǎnshàng le gōngjiāochē.

He ran desperately and finally caught the bus.

HSK 7-9

她拼命工作来养活家人。

Tā pīnmìng gōngzuò lái yǎnghuó jiārén.

She works with all her might to support her family.

memory

拼 (to go all out) + 命 (life) = literally 'betting one's life,' meaning to do something with desperate effort.

usage

Can be used as an adverb (拼命跑 = run desperately) or a verb (他在拼命 = he's going all out). The tone can be admiring or cautionary.

拼 pīn

命 mìng