匆匆

• Pinyin: cōng cōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 匆 = 勿 (not) + 心 (heart, depicting hurrying without settling)

Meaning

Hurriedly; hastily; in a rush. Describes actions done quickly without enough time or care.

A reduplicated form of 匆 that emphasizes the rushed nature. Often used in literary or reflective contexts. Can describe both physical hurrying and the fleeting passage of time. Common phrase: 匆匆那年 (those fleeting years).

Examples

1. 他匆匆吃完早餐就赶去上班了，连招呼都没来得及打。 He hurriedly finished breakfast and rushed to work without even having time to say hello.
2. 岁月匆匆，转眼间孩子们都长大成人了。 Time flies by so quickly — in the blink of an eye, the children have all grown up.
3. 她匆匆写了几行字就把信封上了，好赶上最后一班邮车。 She hastily wrote a few lines and sealed the envelope to catch the last mail coach.

Usage Guide

Context: description, literary, everyday

Tone: wistful

Do Say

• 时间过得太匆匆了。(Time passes so quickly.)
• 他匆匆忙忙地出门了。(He left in a hurry.)

Don't Say

• 我匆匆地慢慢走 (Contradictory — 匆匆 means hurried, opposite of 慢慢)

Origin & History

Reduplication of 匆 (hurried), originally depicting something flying past quickly. The doubled form intensifies the sense of haste.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal