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震动 (zhèn dòng) — to shake, to vibrate (physically); to shock, to strongly affect (emotionally or socially)

Definition

震动 covers both physical shaking (buildings, phones) and emotional/social impact. For pure physical vibration use 振动; for stronger emotional shock use 震撼.

verb
to shaketo vibrate (physically)to shockto strongly affect (emotionally or socially)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 震动。
    Dì zhèn shí zhěng dòng lóu dōu zài zhèn dòng.
    The whole building was shaking during the earthquake.
  • 震动，。
    Shǒu jī zhèn dòng le yí xià, wǒ mǎ shàng kàn le xiāo xi.
    My phone vibrated once, and I immediately checked the message.
  • 震动。
    Zhè ge bēi jù zhèn dòng le suǒ yǒu rén de xīn.
    This tragedy shook everyone's heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

震zhènshake
动dòngmove

震 and 动 both suggest shaking and moving, so it describes vibration or a strong shock.

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén震zhèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

震 combines 雨 (rain) with 辰 (chén), which gives the sound; 雨 is the part associated with the character’s meaning.

Open 震 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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