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好动 (hào dòng) — restless, hyperactive (usually of children)

Definition

Used for children (or pets) who can't sit still — always wanting to move, climb, or run. Pairs naturally with 孩子 and implies restless energy rather than deliberate activity.

adjective
restlesshyperactive (usually of children)

Examples

  • 好动，。
    Zhè ge hái zi hěn hào dòng, yí kè yě zuò bú zhù.
    This child is very restless and can't sit still for a moment.
  • 好动。
    hào dòng De hái zi wǎng wǎng zhù yì lì bù jí zhōng.
    Hyperactive children often have poor concentration.
  • 好动，。
    Wǒ jiā de xiǎo gǒu tè bié hào dòng, zǒng xiǎng wǎng wài pǎo.
    Our little dog is especially restless; it always wants to run outside.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

好hǎofond of
动dòngmove

好 (fond of) and 动 (move) combine to mean restless activity.

Characters in this word

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

好 joins 女 (woman) and 子 (child), understood as a woman with a child, linked to goodness or affection.

Open 好 →

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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