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挪动 (nuó dòng) — to move (slowly or with effort), to shift, to budge

Definition

Emphasizes slow, effortful movement of something heavy or stuck — 'to shift / to budge' rather than general movement. Often takes a small amount or short distance (一下, 一点), suggesting the motion is partial or reluctant.

verb
to move (slowly or with effort)to shiftto budge

Examples

  • 挪动。
    Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè zhāng zhuō zi nuó dòng yí xià.
    Please help me move this table a little.
  • 挪动。
    Qián miàn nà liàng chē nuó dòng le yì diǎn dì fāng.
    That car in front shifted a little bit of space.
  • 挪动，。
    Bìng rén wú fǎ nuó dòng shēn tǐ, zhǐ néng tǎng zhe.
    The patient couldn't move their body and could only lie still.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

挪nuómove
动dòngmove

挪 and 动 both mean move, so it means to shift or budge.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
那
那nà挪nuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挪 pairs 扌 (hand) with 那, which gives its sound.

Open 挪 →

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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