惊动 (jīng dòng) — to disturb, to alarm, to startle | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

惊动 means to disturb or alarm someone — often a stronger reaction than 打搅 (minor bother), close in force to 惊吓 (scare). Use it when an event 'rattles' or draws the attention of someone who was at rest.

verb

to disturbto alarmto startle

Examples

惊动，。
Bié jīng dòng tā, tā zhèng zài shuì jiào.
Don't disturb him; he's sleeping.
惊动。
Zhè jiàn shì zuì hǎo bú yào jīng dòng tài duō rén.
It's best not to alarm too many people about this matter.
惊动。
Jiǎo bù shēng jīng dòng le yuàn zi lǐ de gǒu.
The sound of footsteps startled the dog in the yard.

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dòngdisturb

惊 'alarm' and 动 'disturb' together mean to startle or disturb someone.

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.

忄京惊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng惊jīng

Same sound today

惊 is made from 忄 (heart) and 京, which gives the sound.

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

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Emotions & Feelings

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