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感动 (gǎn dòng) — (verb) to move or touch someone emotionally; (adjective) moving, touching

Definition

感动 describes being emotionally moved by something (a story, a person's kindness). Unlike 激动, it's a quiet, warm feeling rather than being excited or worked up.

verb
to move or touch someone emotionally
adjective
movingtouching

Examples

  • 感动。
    Zhè ge gù shi gǎn dòng le hěn duō rén.
    This story moved many people.
  • 感动。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng fēi cháng gǎn dòng.
    This movie is very moving.
  • 感动。
    Tā bèi péng you de bāng zhù gǎn dòng le.
    He was moved by his friends' help.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

感gǎnfeel
动dòngmove

Feel 感 and move 动 together build being emotionally moved.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Emotions & Feelings5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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