吹动 (chuī dòng) — to blow (something) into motion, to move by blowing

Definition

A compound verb meaning 'to blow something into motion' — 风 or 气 moves a light object (leaves, hair, curtains). Common with 把 or 被 constructions, as in 把窗帘吹动了.

verb
to blow (something) into motionto move by blowing

Examples

  • 吹动。
    Fēng chuī dòng le shù shàng de yè zi.
    The wind blew the leaves on the tree.
  • 吹动。
    Tā de tóu fa bèi fēng chuī dòng le.
    Her hair was blown by the wind.
  • 吹动。
    Yí zhèn dà fēng bǎ chuāng lián chuī dòng le.
    A gust of wind blew the curtains.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

吹chuīblow
动dòngmove

吹 (blow) and 动 (move) together mean blow something so it moves.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

吹 pairs 口 (mouth) with 欠 (blow), giving the picture of air being blown from the mouth.

Open 吹 →

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 →

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