动怒 (dòng nù) — to lose one's temper, to flare up | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal/literary way to say someone loses their temper and flares up — stronger than the everyday 生气 (shēngqì). Often used in writing or about notable outbursts.

verb

to lose one's temperto flare up

Examples

动怒。
Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi hòu lì kè dòng nù le.
He lost his temper immediately after hearing this news.
。
Wǒ cóng lái méi jiàn tā dòng guò zhè me dà de nù.
I've never seen him get so angry before.
动怒，。
Bié wèi zhè zhǒng xiǎo shì dòng nù, bù zhí dé.
Don't lose your temper over such a small matter; it's not worth it.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

动 means stir and 怒 means anger, so the idea is stirring up anger.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

心奴怒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

奴

奴nú怒nù

Same sound today

怒 pairs 心 (heart) with 奴, which is used for its sound rather than its meaning of slave.

Appears in

Emotions & Feelings

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