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涌动 (yǒng dòng) — to surge (of water, crowds); to well up (of emotions, thoughts)

Definition

Literary 'to surge / well up,' used for moving water, crowds, and abstract feelings like emotions or thoughts. Conveys a continuous, rising, wave-like motion rather than a single burst.

verb
to surge (of water, crowds)to well up (of emotions, thoughts)

Examples

  • 涌动，。
    Hǎi shuǐ bú duàn yǒng dòng zhe, chōng shàng shā tān.
    The seawater keeps surging, washing onto the beach.
  • 涌动。
    Rén qún zhōng yǒng dòng zhe yì zhǒng bù ān de qíng xù.
    A feeling of unease surged through the crowd.
  • 涌动。
    Tā de xīn lǐ yǒng dòng zhe shuō bù chū de gǎn dòng.
    An unspeakable emotion surged in her heart.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

涌yǒngwell up
动dòngmove

Both 涌 and 动 convey moving or surging, so together they mean a wave-like welling or flow.

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 湧; 涌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
勇
勇yǒng湧yǒng
Same sound today

The traditional form 湧 has 水 (water) and 勇, where 勇 gives the sound. The simplified 涌 is a later shorthand.

Open 涌 →

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 & Process

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