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动容 (dòng róng) — to be visibly moved (one's expression changes due to emotion)

Definition

Literary verb/adjective meaning 'to be visibly moved' — one's facial expression changes from emotion. Used in writing and speeches, not casual talk. Negate as 不动容 or 从未动容.

to be visibly moved (one's expression changes due to emotion)

Examples

  • ，动容。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā bù yóu dòng róng.
    Upon hearing this news, he couldn't help but be visibly moved.
  • ，。
    Tā cóng wèi dòng guò róng, jí shǐ zài zuì bēi shāng de shí kè.
    She has never been visibly moved, even in the saddest moments.
  • ，。
    Guān zhòng bèi nà bù diàn yǐng shēn shēn dǎ dòng, xǔ duō rén dòng le yí cì róng.
    The audience was deeply touched by that movie; many were visibly moved once.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

动dòngchange
容róngcountenance

动 means to change or stir and 容 means one's countenance, so an expression is changed by emotion.

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng容róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

Open 容 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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