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动手术 (dòng shǒu shù) — (medical) to perform or undergo surgery; (figurative) to make major changes, to reorganize

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to perform/undergo surgery' — literally 'move hand craft'. In figurative use it means making a major overhaul or reorganization. Split as 动了/动过/动一次 when inserting aspect or measure elements.

verb
(medical) to perform or undergo surgery(figurative) to make major changesto reorganize

Examples

  • 动手术。
    Yī shēng míng tiān gěi tā dòng shǒu shù.
    The doctor will perform surgery on him tomorrow.
  • 。
    Tā qù nián dòng guò yí cì dà shǒu shù.
    He had a major surgery last year.
  • 动手术。
    Gōng sī xū yào dòng shǒu shù lái gǎi shàn guǎn lǐ.
    The company needs to undergo a major overhaul to improve management.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

动dòngcarry out
手术surgery
手shǒuhand术shùtechnique
偏正Modifier + head

动 means to carry out and 手术 is a hand technique, giving the sense of performing an operation.

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 術; 术 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíngstreet, path
Sound part声符shēngfú
朮
朮zhú術shù
Same sound today

The traditional form 術 has 行 (street, path) beside 朮, which gives the sound; the simplified 术 is a later shorthand.

Open 术 →
Appears in
Medicine & Treatment

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