busy, rush, hurry

忙 is composed of the radical of 心 (heart) and 亡 (die). 心 represents a person's mental state and consciousness, while 亡 depicts someone fleeing frantically into a corner. Because a person who is fleeing experiences intense pressure, extreme haste, and a flustered mind, 忙 combines these concepts to convey a state of being rushed, overwhelmed, or fully occupied—hence its modern meaning of being busy or hurried.