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HSK 7-9
dōng东eastbēn奔runxī西westzǒu走walk
To run here and there; to be constantly on the move.

Literal meaning

east (东) — run (奔) — west (西) — walk (走)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase.

Examples

Wèi为le了zhǎo找dào到gōng工zuò作,tā他měi每tiān天dōng东bēn奔xī西zǒu走。
In order to find a job, he runs here and there every day.
Zhè这xiē些nián年tā他wèi为le了shēng生yì意dōng东bēn奔xī西zǒu走,fēi非cháng常xīn辛kǔ苦。
He has been constantly on the move for business these years, and it's been very hard on him.

Usage & nuances

Often implies a busy and sometimes tiring lifestyle.

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