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走动 (zǒu dòng) — to walk about, to stretch one's legs; to visit each other, to socialize; to be able to walk (after illness); (euphemism) to go to the toilet

Definition

A verb-verb compound with three distinct senses: physical walking around (after meals, after illness), social visiting between people, and a euphemism for going to the toilet. The object of the verb tells you which sense is meant.

verb
to walk aboutto stretch one's legsto visit each otherto socializeto be able to walk (after illness)(euphemism) to go to the toilet

Examples

  • 走动。
    Fàn hòu zài gōng yuán lǐ zǒu dòng duì shēn tǐ yǒu hǎo chù.
    Walking about in the park after meals is good for your health.
  • 走动，。
    Qīn qi zhī jiān yīng gāi duō zǒu dòng, guān xì cái huì qīn jìn.
    Relatives should visit each other more often to keep their relationship close.
  • ，走动。
    Shǒu shù hòu tā huī fù dé hěn kuài, yǐ jīng néng xià chuáng zǒu dòng le.
    He recovered quickly after the surgery and can already get out of bed and walk.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

走zǒuwalk
动dòngmove

走 and 动 both involve movement, together meaning to move about or stretch one's legs.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

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
Friends & Social

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