投奔

• Pinyin: tóu bèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 投 = 扌(hand) + 殳 — to throw; 奔 = 大 + 卉 — to run

Meaning

To seek refuge with; to go to someone for shelter; to join.

To go to a person or place seeking help, protection, or opportunity. Often implies leaving one's current situation to join someone who can provide support. Historical usage includes defecting to another side.

Examples

1. 战乱时期，很多难民投奔到邻国去了。 During the war, many refugees sought refuge in neighboring countries.
2. 他大学毕业后投奔了在深圳创业的表哥。 After graduating from university, he went to join his cousin who was starting a business in Shenzhen.
3. 那个将军最终选择投奔敌营，令人震惊。 That general ultimately chose to defect to the enemy camp — shocking.

Usage Guide

Context: seeking help, migration, historical

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 投奔亲戚。(To seek refuge with relatives.)
• 投奔敌方。(To defect to the enemy.)

Don't Say

• 把普通拜访叫'投奔' (投奔 implies seeking help or refuge — a casual visit is just 拜访 or 去找)

Origin & History

投 means to throw oneself toward, 奔 means to run/rush — to rush toward someone for help.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal