连忙

• Pinyin: lián máng
• Hanzi breakdown: 连 = 辶 (movement) + 车 (vehicle), meaning to connect or in succession; 忙 = 忄(heart) + 亡 (to perish), meaning one's heart is overwhelmed — busy, hurried

Meaning

Hurriedly; hastily; promptly. Describes doing something quickly in response to a situation.

An adverb used to describe a quick, often reflexive reaction to something. Similar to 赶紧 and 赶快, but 连忙 has a slightly more literary or narrative feel. Very common in written storytelling. Implies that the action was prompted by something — you do it hastily because of a preceding event.

Examples

1. 看到老人摔倒了，他连忙跑过去帮忙。 Seeing the old man fall, he hurriedly ran over to help.
2. 听到敲门声，我连忙去开门。 Hearing the knock at the door, I quickly went to open it.
3. 下雨了，大家连忙往屋里跑。 It started raining, and everyone hurriedly ran indoors.

Usage Guide

Context: narration, reaction, urgency

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 她连忙站起来让座。(She hurriedly stood up to give her seat.)
• 他连忙道歉。(He hastily apologised.)

Don't Say

• 我每天连忙吃早饭。(Don't use 连忙 for habitual actions — it describes an urgent one-time reaction. For daily habits, use 匆忙 or just say 我每天赶紧吃早饭.)

Origin & History

连 means immediately or in succession; 忙 means busy or hurried. Together: hurrying in immediate succession — reacting promptly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal