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gè 各 bèn 奔 dōng 东 xī 西

各奔东西 gè bèn dōng xī

to go one's separate ways; to part and scatter

Literally: each rush east west

Intermediate 🤝 Friendship & family
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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Found in Ming-dynasty fiction describing companions parting.

How to use it

Predicate; neutral, slightly sad. Often 毕业以后各奔东西.

Example sentences

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  1. 毕业以后，同学们各奔东西，很少再见面了。
    Bìyè yǐhòu, tóngxuémen gè bèn dōng xī, hěn shǎo zài jiànmiàn le.
    After graduation the classmates went their separate ways and rarely met again.
    graduate after, classmates each rush east west, very seldom again meet (particle)
  2. 项目结束了，团队成员也各奔东西了。
    Xiàngmù jiéshù le, tuánduì chéngyuán yě gè bèn dōng xī le.
    The project ended and the team members scattered.
    project end (particle), team member also each rush east west (particle)

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