挪挪 (nuó nuó) — to move slightly, to shift a bit

Definition

Reduplicated 挪 (move), meaning a small, gentle shift — often of one's body or furniture to make room. Unlike a full move, it implies just a little adjustment.

verb
to move slightlyto shift a bit

Examples

  • 挪挪。
    Qǐng bǎ yǐ zi nuó nuó.
    Please move the chair a bit.
  • 挪挪，。
    Tā nuó nuó shēn zi, gěi wǒ ràng le gè zuò.
    He shifted his body and gave me a seat.
  • 挪挪，。
    Nǐ nuó nuó zhuō zi, wǒ fàng yí xià dōng xī.
    You move the table a bit, I'll put something down.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

挪nuómove
挪nuómove

The action 挪 occurs twice, suggesting a slight, tentative 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
那
那nà挪nuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挪 pairs 扌 (hand) with 那, which gives its sound.

Open 挪 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
那
那nà挪nuó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挪 pairs 扌 (hand) with 那, which gives its sound.

Open 挪 →

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