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撼动 (hàn dòng) — to shake, to rock (physically); to move (emotionally), to stir

Definition

撼动 means to shake or rock forcefully, used both literally (an earthquake) and figuratively (emotions, institutions). It is stronger than 感动 ('to move/touch emotionally') — 撼动 implies something fundamental is disturbed, not just felt.

verb
to shaketo rock (physically)to move (emotionally)to stir

Examples

  • 撼动。
    Dì zhèn hàn dòng le zhěng gè chéng shì.
    The earthquake shook the entire city.
  • 撼动。
    Tā de huà shēn shēn hàn dòng le wǒ de nèi xīn.
    His words deeply moved my heart.
  • 撼动。
    Zhè chǎng yùn dòng hàn dòng le jiù zhì dù de jī chǔ.
    This movement shook the foundations of the old system.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

撼hànshake
动dòngmove

撼 means shake, and 动 means move, so together they express shaking or stirring.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 撼 →

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
Change & ProcessEmotions & Feelings

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