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举动 (jǔ dòng) — act, action, move

Definition

举动 names a single, observable act or move someone makes, often with a hint that it is unusual or revealing. Contrast with 举措 (formal policy measure) and 行为 (general behavior/conduct).

noun
actactionmove

Examples

  • 举动。
    Tā de zhè ge jǔ dòng ràng dà jiā dōu hěn chī jīng.
    His act surprised everyone.
  • 举动。
    Zhè ge jǔ dòng jiù le hěn duō rén de mìng.
    This act saved many people's lives.
  • 举动。
    Wǒ rèn wéi tā de jǔ dòng hěn wēi xiǎn.
    I think his action is very dangerous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

举jǔact
动dòngmove

Both 举 and 动 suggest movement or action, so together they refer to an act or move.

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 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 →

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
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