拨动 (bō dòng) — to move or shift (sth) by pushing, flicking, or turning; to stir; to prod

Definition

A small, precise physical motion — flicking, prodding, or turning a switch or dial with a fingertip. More delicate and targeted than general 推动; pairs with strings (琴弦), dials (旋钮), and switches (开关).

verb
to move or shift (sth) by pushingflickingor turningto stirto prod
Easily confused

Examples

  • 拨动。
    Tā qīng qīng bō dòng le yí xià shí zhēn.
    He gently moved the hour hand.
  • 拨动。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè ge kāi guān wǎng yòu bō dòng.
    Please turn this switch to the right.
  • 拨动。
    Tā bō dòng qín xián zòu chū yōu měi de xuán lǜ.
    She plucked the strings and produced a beautiful melody.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

拨bōflick or push
动dòngmove

拨 (flick or push) and 动 (move) combine to mean making something move.

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 撥; 拨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
發
發fā撥bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撥 combines 手 (hand) with 發, which gives the sound; the simplified 拨 is a different form.

Open 拨 →

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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