奔

• Pinyin: bèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 奔 = 大 (big) + 卉 (running legs, phonetic)

Meaning

To head straight for; to go directly toward (something one wants).

When pronounced bèn (fourth tone), this means to head directly toward a goal or target with determination. Different from the first-tone pronunciation bēn which means to run/rush. Often used with destinations or ages (奔三十 = approaching thirty).

Examples

1. 他一毕业就奔大城市去了，想闯出一番事业。 Right after graduation, he headed straight for the big city to make a name for himself.
2. 今年我都奔四十了，真是时间不等人啊。 I'm already approaching forty this year — time really waits for no one.
3. 别聊了，直接奔主题吧。 Let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point.

Usage Guide

Context: goals, age, direction

Tone: determined

Do Say

• 他奔三十了。(He's approaching thirty.)
• 咱们奔哪儿去？(Where are we heading?)

Don't Say

• 把'奔跑'的奔读成bèn (Don't pronounce 奔 as bèn when it means 'run' — that's bēn; bèn is specifically for 'heading toward')

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to run.' The bèn pronunciation evolved to mean heading toward a specific target.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal