赶忙

• Pinyin: gǎn máng
• Hanzi breakdown: 赶 = 走 (walk) + 干 (phonetic), meaning to rush; 忙 = 忄 (heart radical) + 亡 (lost), meaning busy/hurried

Meaning

Hurriedly; hastily; at once. To do something quickly due to urgency.

An adverb expressing haste, often used when reacting to a situation. Similar to 赶紧, 连忙, and 急忙. Commonly appears before verbs to show immediate action taken in response to circumstances. Often implies a sense of anxiety or the need to catch up.

Examples

1. 听到外面下雨了，她赶忙把阳台上晾着的衣服收了进来。 Hearing it was raining outside, she hurried to bring in the clothes drying on the balcony.
2. 看到老师走进教室，同学们赶忙坐好停止了聊天。 Seeing the teacher walk into the classroom, the students quickly sat down and stopped chatting.
3. 他发现钱包落在出租车上了，赶忙打电话联系司机。 He realized he'd left his wallet in the taxi and hurried to call the driver.

Usage Guide

Context: reactions, everyday situations

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 我赶忙去帮她拿行李。(I hurried to help her with her luggage.)
• 他赶忙道歉。(He hastily apologized.)

Don't Say

• 在正式书面语中过度使用赶忙 (In formal writing, 立即 or 随即 may be more appropriate than 赶忙)

Origin & History

Compound of 赶 (to rush, hurry) + 忙 (busy, hurried). Together emphasizing urgent, hasty action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal