东奔西走

• Pinyin: dōng bēn xī zǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 东 = 木 + 日 (east — sun rising behind a tree); 奔 = 大 + 卉 + 止 (to rush); 西 = 覀 (west — sun setting); 走 = 土 + 止 (to walk/go)

Meaning

To rush about in all directions; to bustle around everywhere. Describes being constantly on the move, usually in pursuit of a goal or managing tasks across many locations.

Often used to describe the relentless effort of someone working hard under pressure — running errands, seeking opportunities, or handling responsibilities across scattered locations. Can carry a sense of exhaustion or admiration for persistent, tireless effort.

Examples

1. 为了筹集资金，他东奔西走，拜访了数十位潜在投资人。 To raise funds, he ran around everywhere, visiting dozens of potential investors.
2. 多年来她东奔西走，只为给孩子寻找最合适的医疗资源。 For years she rushed from place to place, all to find the best medical care for her child.
3. 经历了数月的奔波，他终于在异乡站稳了脚跟。 After months of constant running around, he finally managed to get on his feet in a foreign place.

Usage Guide

Context: work, daily life, hardship, effort

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 创业初期，他为了拓展人脉东奔西走，每天行程排得满满当当。(In the early days of his startup, he rushed around everywhere to build connections, with a packed schedule every day.)
• 父母东奔西走为孩子拼搏，背后的艰辛往往不为外人所知。(Parents bustle around everywhere working hard for their children, and the hardships behind this are often unknown to outsiders.)

Don't Say

• 他东奔西走地休息 — contradictory; 东奔西走 implies ceaseless active movement and effort, which is incompatible with resting

Origin & History

东 (east) + 奔 (to rush) + 西 (west) + 走 (to go) — rushing east and west, indicating ceaseless movement in all directions

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal