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一举一动 (yī jǔ yī dòng) — every move; each and every action

Definition

Idiom for 'every single action' of a person. Focuses on physical actions and behavior (not speech) — pair with 一言一行 when you need to include words as well.

phrase
every moveeach and every action

Examples

  • 一举一动。
    Tā de yī jǔ yī dòng dōu xiǎn de hěn yǒu lǐ mào.
    Every move he makes seems very polite.
  • 一举一动。
    Jǐng chá zǐ xì jì lù xián yí rén de yī jǔ yī dòng.
    The police carefully recorded every move of the suspect.
  • ，一举一动。
    Zài miàn shì zhōng, nǐ de yī jǔ yī dòng dōu huì bèi kǎo guān zhù yì dào.
    During the interview, every move you make will be noticed by the examiner.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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