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波动 (bō dòng) — to fluctuate (prices, emotions, data); to undulate (water, light, surfaces)

Definition

波动 is a formal written word for ‘to fluctuate / undulate,’ used in economic, medical, or scientific contexts. Use 变动 for general changes in policies or data; 起伏 is more literary and often describes emotions or waves.

verb
to fluctuate (prices, emotions, data)to undulate (water, light, surfaces)

Examples

  • 波动。
    Jīng jì shù jù jīng cháng bō dòng.
    Economic data often fluctuate.
  • 波动。
    Tā de bìng qíng zuì jìn bō dòng dé hěn lì hài.
    His condition has been fluctuating severely recently.
  • 波动。
    Hú miàn zài yuè guāng xià wēi wēi bō dòng.
    The lake surface gently undulates in the moonlight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

波bōwave
动dòngmove

波 means wave and 动 means move; together they name a wave-like rise and fall.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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