忙 (máng) means "busy" with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: busy
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
忙 does not appear in oracle bone script and is a relatively late phono-semantic compound, not attested in early inscriptions. It combines 忄, the left-side form of 心 (heart), as the semantic component with 亡 (wáng) as the phonetic. The structure suggests a state of mind, with 亡 providing the sound that shifted to máng.
Form evolution
The character entered the written record during the clerical script period, so it has no oracle bone or bronze form. It was standardised in seal-to-clerical transition with the heart radical compressed on the left. The modern form is essentially identical to its clerical origin: 忄 on the left, 亡 on the right.
How the meaning evolved
The original and still-current meaning is to be busy or occupied, with an undertone of being pressed or flustered. It extended to hurried action (急忙, 匆忙) and to helping someone with a task (帮忙, literally help the busy). The character never meant death despite containing 亡; the phonetic lent only its sound.
Cultural note
帮忙 (to help) is a daily phrase where 忙 keeps its original sense of busyness, meaning to help someone carry their load. Learners sometimes write 忙 with 心 below instead of 忄 on the left, accidentally producing 忘 (forget); the two characters are a classic minimal pair that trip up writers at the HSK 1 to 2 boundary.
Basic info
| Pinyin | máng |
| Meanings | busy |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #274 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 忙
On the new HSK 1 exam
Studying for HSK 1? Keep 忙 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Appears in these articles
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.