动不动 (dòng bu dòng) — (adverb) easily, at the drop of a hat (typicall…

Definition

Adverb meaning 'at the drop of a hat' — describes someone who does something repeatedly or habitually, almost always followed by 就. Unlike 轻易 (which emphasizes lack of difficulty), 动不动 highlights frequency or habit, often in a negative sense.

adverb

easilyat the drop of a hat (typically followed by 就, used for negative actions)

Examples

动不动，。
Tā dòng bu dòng jiù qǐng jià, tóng shì dōu yǒu yì jiàn le.
He asks for leave at the drop of a hat, and his colleagues are starting to complain.
动不动，。
Zhè hái zi dòng bu dòng jiù kū, zhēn ná tā méi bàn fǎ.
This child cries at the drop of a hat – there's really no way to deal with him.
动不动，。
Tā men dòng bu dòng jiù chǎo jià, lín jū dōu shòu bù liǎo le.
They start arguing at the drop of a hat, and the neighbors can't take it anymore.

Origin

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

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 →

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 →