拖动 (tuō dòng) — to drag, to pull (something heavy); to tow; (computing) to drag (a mouse operation)

Definition

拖动 (tuōdòng) literally combines 拖 ('drag/pull') and 动 ('move'), so it covers both physical dragging and the computer mouse operation. For the on-screen sense, pair it with 鼠标 — 把A∼到B is the standard click-and-drag pattern.

verb
to dragto pull (something heavy)to tow(computing) to drag (a mouse operation)

Examples

  • 拖动。
    Tā bǎ xiāng zi tuō dòng dào mén kǒu.
    He dragged the suitcase to the door.
  • 拖动。
    Zhè liàng kǎ chē kě yǐ tuō dòng yí liàng huài le de chē.
    This truck can tow a broken car.
  • 拖动。
    Nǐ kě yǐ yòng shǔ biāo tuō dòng zhè ge wén jiàn dào wén jiàn jiā lǐ.
    You can use the mouse to drag this file into the folder.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

拖tuōdrag
动dòngmove

拖 (drag) + 动 (move): pulling something until it 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
它
它tā拖tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拖 uses 手 to show an action done with the hand, and 它 to give its sound.

Open 拖 →

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 →

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