Chinese word

动弹

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng tán

Meaning

  • verbmove

Example

车太挤了，我一点儿也不能动弹。chē tài jǐ le wǒ yì diǎnr yě bù néng dòng tan

It's too crowded in the car for me to move at all.

Illustration for 动弹 (move)

More examples

火灾发生时，浓烟迅速蔓延，许多人被困在屋内，无法动弹。huǒ zāi fā shēng shí nóng yān xùn sù màn yán xǔ duō rén bèi kùn zài wū nèi wú fǎ dòng tan

When the fire broke out, thick smoke quickly spread, and many people were trapped indoors, unable to move.

Core concept

A body or object either makes even the smallest movement or is completely unable to do so.

Common phrases

  • 动弹不得dòng tán bù dé

    unable to move

  • 无法动弹wú fǎ dòng tán

    unable to move

Similar words

动dòng: Move or alter the position or posture of a person or thing.
移动yí dòng: Move to a different place or change the location of something.
挪动nuó dòng: Move something slightly to a new position.

Definition in Chinese

口语中主要用于表示'不要动'的命令或表示不能动的否定，意义接近“动”，但侧重于是否连微小动作都发生。kóu yǔ zhōng zhǔ yào yòng yú biǎo shì bú yào dòng de mìng lìng huò biǎo shì bù néng dòng de fǒu dìng yì yì jiē jìn dòng dàn cè zhòng yú shì fǒu lián wēi xiǎo dòng zuò dōu fā shēng

Word origin

动弹 (dòngtán, "move") is a colloquial two-syllable verb built around 动 (dòng, "move"), and its full form is conventional rather than a literal combination of the usual meanings of both characters.

Usage tips

  • Negative sentences with this word can describe physical restraint or lack of space, not just a decision to keep still, which makes the surrounding situation especially important.

Opposites

Related words

  • 动弹不得dòng tán bù déunable to moveidiom

Word lists with this word