动气 (dòng qì) — (colloquial, separable verb) to get angry, to t…

Definition

A colloquial separable verb meaning 'to get angry / take offense' — usually about a small trigger, and more casual than 生气. Splits as 动了气 or 动什么气.

verb

(colloquial, separable verb) to get angryto take offense

动气。
Bié yīn wèi zhè diǎn xiǎo shì dòng qì.
Don't get angry over such a small thing.
，。
Tā gāng cái duì wǒ dòng le qì, xiàn zài hái zài shēng qì.
He just now got angry at me, and he's still mad.
？。
Nǐ dòng shén me qì ne? yòu bú shì gù yì de.
Why are you getting angry? It's not like it was intentional.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

“动” means to stir or move and “气” here refers to anger, so the image is stirring up anger.

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.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

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.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.