Chinese word

忙

Pronunciation

Pinyinmáng

Meaning

  • adjectivebusy

Example

我现在很忙。wǒ xiàn zài hěn máng

I am very busy now.

Illustration for 忙 (busy)

More examples

他今天太忙，没时间吃饭。tā jīn tiān tài máng méi shí jiān chī fàn

He is too busy today and has no time to eat.

Core concept

Tasks fill the available time and pull attention in several directions at once.

Common phrases

  • 太忙tài máng

    too busy

  • 很忙hěn máng

    very busy

Definition in Chinese

正在做很多事情，暂时抽不出时间。zhèng zài zuò hěn duō shì qíng zàn shí chōu bù chū shí jiān

Word origin

The character 忙 (máng, "busy") uses the heart radical 忄 (xīn, "heart") for its meaning area and 亡 (wáng, "lost") for its sound, linking the word to an occupied inner state.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English busy, this word focuses on tasks taking up time, so a crowded place or a working phone line usually needs a different Chinese expression.

Other meanings

  • hecticadjective

Word lists with this word