不可动摇 (bù kě dòng yáo) — unshakable, unwavering, firm and steadfast

Definition

A fixed set phrase meaning 'unshakable, unwavering' — usually describes beliefs, principles, or relationships that cannot be changed by outside pressure.

verb
unshakableunwaveringfirm and steadfast

Examples

  • 不可动摇。
    Tā duì zhèng yì de xìn niàn bù kě dòng yáo.
    His belief in justice is unshakable.
  • 不可动摇。
    Liǎng guó zhī jiān de yǒu yì bù kě dòng yáo.
    The friendship between the two countries is unshakable.
  • 不可动摇。
    Zhè ge yuán zé shì bù kě dòng yáo de.
    This principle is unshakable.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 摇 →

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