# 风尘仆仆

fēng chén pú pú

Look weary or dust-covered from travel

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Burdened with wind and dust

**Traditional Chinese:** 風塵僕僕

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Describe someone arriving after a tiring journey.

Usually suggests travel, not ordinary untidiness.

## Understanding the expression

Wind and dust cling to someone who has spent time on the road. The expression conveys the visible fatigue and worn appearance of travel, even when the modern journey involved no literal dust. It often introduces an arrival after a long trip or hurried movement between places. The tone can be sympathetic or admiring. A dirty shirt alone does not supply the journey; the travel context is what gives the image its meaning.

## Examples

他风尘仆仆地赶回家。

### Traditional Chinese

他風塵僕僕地趕回家。

tā fēng chén pú pú dì gǎn huí jiā 。

He hurried home looking worn from travel.

代表团风尘仆仆，刚下火车。

### Traditional Chinese

代表團風塵僕僕，剛下火車。

dài biǎo tuán fēng chén pú pú ， gāng xià huǒ chē 。

The delegation looked travel-worn after getting off the train.

她风尘仆仆地带来救援物资。

### Traditional Chinese

她風塵僕僕地帶來救援物資。

tā fēng chén pú pú dì dài lái jiù yuán wù zī 。

She arrived weary from travel with relief supplies.

看到风尘仆仆的客人，主人先请他休息。

### Traditional Chinese

看到風塵僕僕的客人，主人先請他休息。

kàn dào fēng chén pú pú de kè rén ， zhǔ rén xiān qǐng tā xiū xi 。

Seeing the travel-weary guest, the host first invited him to rest.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%A2%A8%E5%A1%B5%E5%83%95%E5%83%95)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1049&webMd=1&la=0)

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