各奔前程
gè bèn qián chéng · HSK 7
each goes his own way
🛤️ 各 each + 奔 rush + 前 ahead + 程 journey = each rushes own road
Compound breakdown: 各 (each) + 奔 (rush/run) + 前 (forward) + 程 (route/journey). Literally each person speeds along their own road ahead — used when friends or partners part ways to pursue separate paths.
各 — 夂 (foot coming down) + 口 (mouth/enclosure)
Originally depicted a foot (夂) arriving at a dwelling or settlement (口), suggesting 'each one arriving' at their own place. From this came the meaning 'each' or 'every,' emphasizing individual instances. The character is now used purely for this grammatical sense.
奔 — 大 (person) over 卉 (originally three 止 'feet')
Originally a pictograph of a person (大) running with multiple feet (three 止) shown below to convey rapid motion. Over time the feet were simplified into the form 卉. The character means to run fast, rush, or hurry.
前 — top 丷 + 一 + 月 (moon) + 刂 (knife)
Originally written 歬, depicting a foot 止 above a boat 舟, meaning to advance or go forward. Over time the form evolved and the knife radical 刂 was added, while 止 and 舟 fused into the modern shape. The core meaning 'front, before, ahead' has stayed consistent.