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挥动 (huī dòng) — to wave; to brandish

Definition

A concrete, physical verb meaning to swing or wave something in the hand (arm, flag, weapon). Pairs with a held object; the action is vigorous and visible, not a small gesture like 招手.

verb
to waveto brandish

Examples

  • 挥动。
    Tā xīng fèn dì huī dòng zhe shǒu bì xiàng wǒ dǎ zhāo hu.
    He excitedly waved his arm to greet me.
  • 挥动，。
    Shì bīng men yòng lì huī dòng qí zhì, wèi duì wu jiā yóu.
    The soldiers vigorously waved the flags to cheer for the team.
  • 挥动，。
    Bú yào suí yì huī dòng dāo jù, yǐ miǎn shāng dào bié rén.
    Don't brandish knives casually, or you might hurt someone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

挥huīwave
动dòngmove

挥 means wave, and 动 means move; together it means wave or brandish.

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 揮; 挥 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn揮huī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 揮 pairs 扌 (hand) with 軍 as a sound part; the simplified 挥 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 挥 →

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 →
Appears in
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