熙熙攘攘

xī xī rǎng rǎng · HSK 7

bustling with activity (idiom)

👥🏙️ 熙 = thriving, 攘 = jostle; doubled up = a thriving, shoulder-jostling crowd

Each character repeats for emphasis: 熙熙 stacks prosperity, 攘攘 stacks pushing and jostling. Together they name a street so packed with busy, thriving people that everyone keeps bumping shoulders.

More Chinese words · How Chinese works