动物 (dòng wù) — animal | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

animal

Measure word · 只, 群, 个

Examples

动物。
Dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō dòng wù.
There are many animals in the zoo.
动物。
Wǒ zuì xǐ huan de dòng wù shì māo.
My favorite animal is the cat.
动物。
Wǒ zài gōng yuán lǐ kàn jiàn le yì zhī dòng wù.
I saw an animal in the park.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

动物: 动 plus 物, a living thing that moves.

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.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

勿wù物wù

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 3 HSK 2.0 Level 3 Animals & Mammals 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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