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发动 (fā dòng) — to start (a machine, engine); to launch, to initiate (a war, campaign, event); to mobilize, to arouse (people, masses)

Definition

发动 spans both senses: starting a machine (like 启动/开动) and mobilizing people for a campaign. Compared with 开展 ('carry out an activity'), 发动 focuses on rousing participants before action begins.

verb
to start (a machine, engine)to launchto initiate (a war, campaign, event)to mobilizeto arouse (people, masses)

Examples

  • 发动。
    Tā fā dòng le qì chē jiù chū fā le.
    He started the car and set off.
  • 发动。
    Xué xiào fā dòng le yì chǎng huán bǎo yùn dòng.
    The school launched an environmental campaign.
  • 发动。
    Shè qū gàn bù fā dòng jū mín cān yù qīng lǐ gōng zuò.
    Community officials mobilized residents to participate in the cleaning work.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

发fāsend out
动dòngmove

发 puts something out, and 动 makes it move; the word means to start, launch, or mobilize.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 65000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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