繁忙

• Pinyin: fán máng
• Hanzi breakdown: 繁 = 敏 + 糸 — numerous, abundant; 忙 = 忄(heart) + 亡 (lost/perish) — a heart that has lost its rest, rushing about

Meaning

Very busy; hectic; bustling with activity. Describes a sustained state of heavy workload or high traffic volume.

Used for both people and places or systems. 繁忙 suggests a steady, ongoing high level of activity rather than a sudden rush. Commonly applied to transportation hubs, work periods, and economic sectors. More formal than 很忙.

Examples

1. 春节前后是各大快递公司一年中最为繁忙的时段，日均包裹处理量可达平时的三到五倍之多。 Around the Spring Festival is the busiest period of the year for major delivery companies, with daily package volume reaching three to five times the usual level.
2. 这条横贯城区的主干道每天承载着繁忙的车流与人流，是连接东西两个商业中心的重要交通动脉。 This main artery cutting across the city carries heavy streams of cars and pedestrians every day, serving as a key link between the eastern and western commercial centers.
3. 尽管工作繁忙，她仍坚持每周抽出固定时间陪伴父母，认为维系家庭情感纽带是任何事业成就都无法替代的人生价值。 Despite her demanding workload, she still sets aside regular time each week to be with her parents, believing that maintaining family bonds is a life value no career achievement can replace.

Usage Guide

Context: work, transportation, commerce, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 黄金周期间，该机场成为亚太地区最繁忙的枢纽之一。(During Golden Week, the airport became one of the busiest hubs in the Asia-Pacific region.)
• 这家茶馆依然客流繁忙，秘诀在于传统工艺与体验创新并重。(The teahouse remains busy because it values both traditional craft and innovative experiences.)

Don't Say

• 她今天很繁忙 — 繁忙 sounds overly formal for describing a single person's day; use 很忙 or 忙碌 in everyday speech. Reserve 繁忙 for sustained conditions or formal written contexts

Origin & History

繁 (numerous/abundant) + 忙 (busy/rushed) — numerous tasks or movements creating a sustained state of busyness

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal