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慢动作 (màn dòng zuò) — slow motion

Definition

noun
slow motion

Examples

  • 慢动作。
    Zhè ge diàn yǐng yòng le hěn duō màn dòng zuò jìng tóu.
    This movie uses a lot of slow-motion shots.
  • 慢动作。
    Tǐ yù jié mù jīng cháng yòng màn dòng zuò huí fàng jīng cǎi shùn jiān.
    Sports programs often use slow motion to replay exciting moments.
  • 慢动作。
    Nà duàn màn dòng zuò ràng wǒ kàn dé hěn qīng chǔ.
    That slow-motion segment made it very clear for me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

慢mànslow
动作action
动dòngmove作zuòdo
联合Coordinate

“慢” means slow, and “动作” means movement or action, denoting movement shown slowly.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn慢màn
Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →
Appears in
Film & Theater

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