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激动 (jī dòng) — excited, emotionally moved; to excite, to stir up (emotions)

Definition

激动 describes a strong personal emotional reaction — excitement or being moved, often visible outwardly. Compare 兴奋 (pure excitement, lighter, more upbeat) and 感动 (touched or moved by something, usually with warmth rather than agitation).

excitedemotionally movedto exciteto stir up (emotions)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，激动。
    Kàn dào bǐ sài jié guǒ, tā fēi cháng jī dòng.
    He was very excited when he saw the game result.
  • 激动。
    Zhè shǒu yīn yuè néng jī dòng rén de gǎn qíng.
    This piece of music can stir up people's emotions.
  • 激动。
    Dà jiā tīng dào hǎo xiāo xi hòu dōu hěn jī dòng.
    Everyone was very excited after hearing the good news.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

激jīstir
动dòngmove

激 and 动 both describe being stirred and moved, giving an emotionally excited sense.

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
敫
敫jiǎo激jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 激, the 氵 side marks water, and 敫 gives the sound jiǎo; the original sense is water swashing.

Open 激 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Emotions & Feelings2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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