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动弹 (dòng tan) — to budge, to move slightly (usually in negative or question)

Definition

动弹 (dòngtan) means 'to budge, to move slightly' — a spoken verb for small or reluctant movement, almost always used in negative or question contexts (动不了, 动弹不得).

verb
to budgeto move slightly (usually in negative or question)

Examples

  • ，动弹。
    Tā shòu shāng le, tǎng zài chuáng shàng bù néng dòng tan.
    He was injured and couldn't budge while lying in bed.
  • ，动弹。
    Zhè ge xiāng zi tài zhòng le, wǒ yí gè rén gēn běn dòng tan bù liǎo.
    This box is too heavy; I can't budge it at all by myself.
  • 动弹，。
    Nǐ dòng tan yí xià, ràng wǒ guò qù.
    Budge a little so I can get past.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

动dòngmove
弹tánspring

The senses of 动 and 弹 together give the idea of making a small movement.

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.

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 →

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān彈tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Open 弹 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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