走南闯北
zǒu nán chuǎng běi
to travel all over the country; to knock about the world
Character by character
走zǒu
walk
walk
南nán
south
south
闯chuǎng
venture
venture
北běi
north
north
Example
他年轻时走南闯北，什么苦都吃过，什么人都见过。
He travelled all over the country as a young man and has known every hardship and met every kind of person.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said of traders, migrant workers and travelling performers, often to explain someone’s experience: 走南闯北的人见识广. Compare 东奔西走 (lesson 1-19), which stresses being busy rather than going far.
Learn this in Lesson 184 · HSK 7–9: 义乌 (Yiwu, the world’s supermarket)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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