Chinese word

动

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng

Meaning

  • verbmove

Example

别动，让我看看伤口。bié dòng ràng wǒ kàn kàn shāng kǒu

Don't move; let me look at the wound.

Illustration for 动 (move)

More examples

他试着把门动了一下。tā shì zhe bǎ mén dòng le yí xià

He tried moving the door a little.

Core concept

A force or contact makes a person or thing shift position, change state, or begin an action.

Common phrases

  • 别动了bié dòng le

    stop moving

  • 动一下dòng yí xià

    move a little

Similar words

去qù: To depart from one place and travel to another.
来lái: To move in the direction of the speaker.
走zǒu: To travel between places on foot.

Definition in Chinese

（人或物）从原来的位置或状态发生位移或变化，也可指用力使其发生这种变化或开始进行某种动作。rén huò wù cóng yuán lái de wèi zhì huò zhuàng tài fā shēng wèi yí huò biàn huà yě kě zhǐ yòng lì shǐ qí fā shēng zhè zhǒng biàn huà huò kāi shǐ jìn xíng móu zhǒng dòng zuò

Word origin

The simplified form 动 (dòng, "move") comes from traditional 動 (dòng, "move"), whose 重 (zhòng, "heavy") + 力 (lì, "force") components connect applied force with movement.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often connect move with a person changing place, but this verb also describes an object being shifted or a process being set in motion, so its use is wider than travel.

Other meanings

  • touchverb

Word lists with this word