奔
run, bustle
Readings
On'yomi
- ホン
Kun'yomi
- はし.る
Meaning
奔 centers on rapid, energetic movement: running or bustling with purpose. The idea is of dashing forward or hurrying about in a lively way.
Most common words using 奔
- 奔放ほんぽう
wild; uninhibited; extravagant; rampant
- 奔走ほんそう
running about; making every effort (to do); busying oneself (with); being busily engaged (in); good offices; efforts
- 奔流ほんりゅう
torrent; rapid stream; violently rushing stream
- 出奔しゅっぽん
flight; running away; absconding; elopement
- 狂奔きょうほん
rushing around; running wild
- 東奔西走とうほんせいそう
busying oneself about (something); being on the move; bestirring oneself; on the go; taking an active interest
- 不羈奔放ふきほんぽう
free-spirited and uninhibited
- 出奔者しゅっぽんしゃ
runaway; absconder; eloper
- 大胆奔放だいたんほんぽう
bold and unrestrained; daring and unfettered
- 奔出ほんしゅつ
gushing out
- 奔命ほんめい
wearing oneself out with work
- 奔放不羈ほんぽうふき
free-spirited and uninhibited
- 奔放自在ほんぽうじざい
free and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling; totally uninhibited
- 奔逸ほんいつ
running quickly; fleeing
- 奔馬ほんば
runaway horse; galloping horse
- 奔騰ほんとう
soar (e.g. in price); jump; boom; sudden ride
- 淫奔いんぽん
lewdness; lasciviousness
- 自由奔放じゆうほんぽう
free and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling
- 豪快奔放ごうかいほんぽう
big-hearted and free-spirited; daring and uninhibited
Study
Etymology
奔 combines 大 (person with outstretched arms) with 卉 (three plants), suggesting a person running swiftly through vegetation. The modern form retains the sense of energetic movement.
Meaning mnemonic
A person with outstretched arms (大) dashes through a field of plants (卉), running and bustling with energy.
Reading mnemonic
For ホン, imagine a runner dashing home: home -> ホン, and the person runs swiftly toward it.