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动态 (dòng tài) — (noun) movement, change, development (in a system or situation); (noun) trend, latest developments (in news, market, social media); (adjective) dynamic (as opposed to static)

Definition

Refers to ongoing change or the latest trend in a system, market, or news — the noun sense of 'what's happening now,' not a single physical motion. Contrast with 动作 (a single bodily movement) and 动向 (a trend's direction over time).

noun
movementchangedevelopment (in a system or situation)trendlatest developments (in news, market, social media)
adjective
dynamic (as opposed to static)

Examples

  • 动态。
    Tā zuó tiān zài péng you quān fā le yì tiáo dòng tài.
    She posted an update in her WeChat Moments yesterday.
  • 动态。
    Wǒ men yào liǎo jiě shì chǎng de zuì xīn dòng tài.
    We need to understand the latest market developments.
  • 动态。
    Zhè zhǒng dòng tài xì tǒng bǐ jìng tài xì tǒng gèng líng huó.
    This kind of dynamic system is more flexible than a static one.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

动dòngmovement
态tàistate

The first part means movement and the second means state, so the word is a state of movement or a trend.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
太
太tài态tài
Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Open 态 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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