TongTong
Sign in

松动 (sōng dòng) — loose; not tight (physically); flexible; relaxed (of rules, attitudes, or conditions)

Definition

松 means 'loose / not tight'; 动 means 'to move'. Together 松动 describes something that has loosened physically (a screw, a tooth) or, figuratively, become less strict (rules, finances).

adjective
loosenot tight (physically)flexiblerelaxed (of rules, attitudes, or conditions)

Examples

  • 松动，。
    Zhè kē luó sī dīng yǒu diǎn r sōng dòng le, xū yào níng jǐn.
    This screw has gotten a bit loose—it needs to be tightened.
  • 松动。
    Zuì jìn gōng sī duì yuán gōng qǐng jià de guī dìng sōng dòng le bù shǎo.
    Recently, the company's rules on employee leave have become a lot more flexible.
  • ，松动。
    Tā huàn gōng zuò zhī hòu, shǒu tóu bǐ yǐ qián sōng dòng yì xiē.
    After changing jobs, his finances are a bit more comfortable than before.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

松sōngloosen
动dòngmove

松 means loosen and 动 means move; together describe becoming loose enough to 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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng松sōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

Open 松 →

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
Texture & Quality

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.