Chinese word

动不动

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng bù dòng

Meaning

  • adverboften

Example

他动不动给我打电话。tā dòng bú dòng gěi wǒ dǎ diàn huà

He often calls me.

Illustration for 动不动 (often)

More examples

那个同事动不动就迟到，影响了很多人的工作。nà ge tóng shì dòng bú dòng jiù chí dào yíng xiǎng le hěn duō rén de gōng zuò

That colleague is often late, affecting many people's work.

Core concept

A small trigger readily sets off a particular action or emotional reaction.

Common phrases

  • 动不动就发脾气dòng bú dòng jiù fā pí qì

    often lose one's temper

  • 动不动就迟到dòng bú dòng jiù chí dào

    often be late

Similar words

经常jīng cháng: Frequently happening or being done, stated in a neutral way.
常常cháng cháng: Happening or being done often over a period of time.
总是zǒng shì: Happening or being done almost every time.
老是lǎo shì: Repeatedly happening or being done, with an annoyed or critical tone in casual speech.

Definition in Chinese

表示在微小刺激下就容易发生某种行为或情绪反应，常带责备或无奈的语气，口语中用作副词。biǎo shì zài wēi xiǎo cì jī xià jiù róng yì fā shēng móu zhǒng xíng wéi huò qíng xù fǎn yìng cháng dài zé bèi huò wú nài de yǔ qì kóu yǔ zhōng yòng zuò fù cí

Word origin

The form 动 (dòng, "move") + 不 (bù, "not") + 动 (dòng, "move") turns a repeated verb into a fixed pattern for something that happens at the slightest prompting.

Usage tips

  • When it describes another person's habit, this word can signal criticism even while reporting a real pattern, so it carries attitude as well as frequency.

Other meanings

  • at the slightest thingadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word