牵动 (qiān dòng) — to affect deeply, to tug at (emotions, interests, the whole situation)

Definition

牵动 (qiān dòng) means something stirs or affects emotions/the overall situation strongly — often a small thing that touches hearts or shifts the whole picture. More literary than 影响; common with 心 and 全局.

verb
to affect deeplyto tug at (emotions, interests, the whole situation)

Examples

  • 牵动。
    Zhè jiàn shì qiān dòng le suǒ yǒu rén de xīn.
    This matter tugged at everyone's heart.
  • 牵动。
    Yí gè xiǎo xiǎo de biàn huà kě néng qiān dòng quán jú.
    A small change can affect the whole situation.
  • 牵动。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng shēn shēn qiān dòng le tīng zhòng de qíng xù.
    His speech deeply stirred the emotions of the audience.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

牵qiānpull
动dòngmove

牵 means pull, and 动 means move; pulling causes something to move, hence to affect.

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 牽; 牵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
牛牛niúcow, ox
Sound part声符shēngfú
玄
玄xuán牽qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 牽 is built from 玄 and 牛, an ox, giving the picture of leading an ox by hand. The simplified 牵 is a later shorthand.

Open 牵 →

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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