东奔西走

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dōng bēn xī zǒu
• English Translation: To rush about, to run around, to be busy traveling
• Idiom Composition: 「东」（East）＋「奔」（To run, to rush）＋「西」（West）＋「走」（To walk, to go）
• Meaning: To rush about busily from place to place. It describes constantly moving between many locations without staying in one place.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「东奔西走」 contains the following nuances:

• Busyness: Describes being extremely busy, with no time to rest.
• Frequent travel: Means moving to various places without staying in one location.
• Effort for a purpose: Suggests actively working towards achieving a certain goal.
• Hardship: In some cases, it can also describe struggling and toiling.

3. Usage

「东奔西走」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Work and activity: Describes being busy moving around for work or some activity.
  • Example:「为了这个项目，他最近一直在东奔西走，非常辛苦。」
    （For this project, he has been rushing about recently, which is very tough.）
• Living situation: Describes moving from place to place for livelihood or a specific purpose.
  • Example:「他为了找工作，四处东奔西走，终于找到了一份满意的工作。」
    （He ran around everywhere looking for a job and finally found a satisfactory one.）
• Problem-solving: Describes seeking help from various places and people to solve a problem.
  • Example:「他为了解决公司的问题，东奔西走，四处寻求帮助。」
    （He rushed about seeking help everywhere to solve the company's problems.）

Additional Examples:

1. 她为了照顾生病的母亲，每天东奔西走，忙得不可开交。
   （She ran around every day to take care of her sick mother, so busy that she couldn't cope.）
2. 他们为了筹备婚礼，东奔西走，忙得不亦乐乎。
   （They were rushing about preparing for the wedding, extremely busy.）
3. 他年轻时为了理想东奔西走，积累了丰富的经验。
   （When he was young, he rushed about for his ideals, accumulating rich experience.）
4. 为了给孩子筹集学費，他不得不东奔西走，到处打工。
   （To raise tuition fees for his child, he had to run around everywhere, working odd jobs.）
5. 这位记者常年东奔西走，报道各地的新闻。
   （This reporter has been rushing about for years, reporting news from various places.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Symbol of diligence: In Chinese culture, diligence is considered a virtue. '东奔西走' is often viewed positively as an expression of striving for a purpose.
• Expression of hardship: On the other hand, '东奔西走' can also describe a life of hardship without stability. The meaning needs to be judged by the context.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 四处奔波 (sì chù bēn bō): To rush about everywhere.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 安居乐业 (ān jū lè yè): To live and work in peace and contentment.

6. Summary

'东奔西走' is one of the frequently used idioms in modern Chinese. This phrase not only describes physical movement but also expresses the effort, hardship, and sense of purpose behind it. It is important to understand the nuances of this idiom and be able to use it appropriately in various situations.