动土 (dòng tǔ) — (of construction) to break ground, to start building

Definition

Literally 'move the earth,' 动土 means to break ground for construction — a fixed phrase rooted in the traditional belief that disturbing soil needs an auspicious day (see 仪式, 破土).

verb
(of construction) to break groundto start building
Easily confused

Examples

  • 动土。
    Xīn xué xiào míng tiān jǔ xíng dòng tǔ yí shì.
    The new school will hold a ground-breaking ceremony tomorrow.
  • ，。
    Zhè kuài dì yǐ jīng dòng guò yí cì tǔ, dàn hòu lái tíng gōng le.
    This plot has already had ground broken once, but construction stopped later.
  • 动土，。
    Gōng rén shuō hái méi dòng tǔ, yào děng jí rì.
    The workers said they haven't broken ground yet; they are waiting for an auspicious day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

动dòngmove
土tǔearth

动 'move' + 土 'earth' means disturb ground to begin building.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 土 →

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