跑路 (pǎolù): to abscond

Meanings

1 to abscond
2 to run off (esp. to evade debts or legal trouble)
3 to flee
4 (literal) to go on foot

Characters

跑

Examples

公司老板欠债跑路了。

Gōngsī lǎobǎn qiànzhài pǎolù le.

The company boss skipped town owing debts.

那家健身房突然跑路，会员退不了费。

Nà jiā jiànshēnfáng tūrán pǎolù, huìyuán tuì bùliǎo fèi.

That gym suddenly closed down and absconded — members couldn't get their fees refunded.

Tips

register

Colloquial. The 'abscond' sense is now the dominant meaning, especially in news headlines about failed businesses, fraudulent investment schemes, and gym/training-class operators who vanish with prepaid fees. Originally just meant 'to run' or 'to walk'.