Chinese word

动身

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng shēn

Meaning

  • verbset off

Example

我们现在就动身吧。wǒ men xiàn zài jiù dòng shēn ba

Let's set off now.

Illustration for 动身 (set off)

More examples

救援队午夜就动身前往受灾地区。jiù yuán duì wǔ yè jiù dòng shēn qián wǎng shòu zāi dì qū

The rescue team set off for the disaster area at midnight.

Core concept

The first movement away from a place that turns staying into travel.

Common phrases

  • 动身前往dòng shēn qián wǎng

    set off for

  • 动身离开dòng shēn lí kāi

    set off and leave

  • 动身赴任dòng shēn fù rèn

    set off to take up a post

Similar words

出发chū fā: Begin traveling by leaving a place.
启程qǐ chéng: Begin a trip or planned journey by setting off.
离开lí kāi: Leave a place and head somewhere else.

Definition in Chinese

从某地启程，强调开始动身的动作或时间点。cóng mǒu dì qǐ chéng qiáng diào kāi shǐ dòng shēn de dòng zuò huò shí jiān diǎn

Word origin

动身 (dòngshēn, "set off") is formed from 动 (dòng, "move") and 身 (shēn, "body"), linking a person's moving body with the start of a journey.

Usage tips

  • This verb suits travel plans that name a clear departure moment, while descriptions of an already ongoing journey usually need a different expression.

Other meanings

  • go outverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word