搬动 (bān dòng) — to move (a heavy object) by lifting or shifting

Definition

搬动 means to physically shift a heavy or bulky object from one place to another, often implying effort. Compare with 移动 (yídòng), which covers lighter items and figurative uses (data, people, time).

verb
to move (a heavy object) by lifting or shifting

Examples

  • 搬动？
    Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bān dòng yí xià zhè zhāng zhuō zi ma?
    Can you help me move this table a bit?
  • ，。
    Zhè ge xiāng zi tài zhòng le, wǒ yí gè rén bān bú dòng.
    This box is too heavy; I can't move it alone.
  • ，。
    Xīn jiā jù tài dà, xū yào sān gè rén cái néng bān dé dòng.
    The new furniture is so large that it takes three people to move it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

搬bānshift
动dòngmove

搬 shifts something so that 动 shows it has moved.

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shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān搬bān
Same sound today

The left side 扌 is a hand, showing a hand-related action, while 般 gives the sound bān.

Open 搬 →

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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