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动手动脚 (dòng shǒu dòng jiǎ) — to grope; to take physical liberties (with someone, usually a woman)

Definition

Set-phrase verb meaning 'to grope' or 'take physical liberties' with someone — implies unwelcome touching. Stronger and more colloquial than the general verb 动手 ('to make a move / start doing').

verb
to gropeto take physical liberties (with someone, usually a woman)

Examples

  • ，动手动脚。
    Tā shì gè zhèng rén jūn zǐ, cóng lái bú duì nǚ xìng dòng shǒu dòng jiǎ.
    He's a gentleman and never makes unwanted advances toward women.
  • 动手动脚。
    Zài gōng gòng chǎng hé dòng shǒu dòng jiǎ shì bú dào dé de.
    Groping in public places is immoral.
  • 动手动脚。
    Tā yīn wèi duì nǚ tóng shì dòng shǒu dòng jiǎ bèi kāi chú le.
    He was fired for making unwanted advances toward a female coworker.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

动手move hands
动dòngmove手shǒuhand
动宾Verb + object
动脚move feet
动dòngmove脚jiǎofoot
动宾Verb + object

动手 and 动脚 describe moving hands and feet; together suggest taking liberties.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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