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煽动 (shān dòng) — to incite, to instigate

Definition

煽动 means to incite or stir people up toward action, usually negative or violent. Stronger and more hostile than 鼓动 (which can be neutral/positive urging); broader than 挑拨 (which targets interpersonal discord).

verb
to inciteto instigate

Examples

  • 煽动。
    Tā lì yòng yáo yán shān dòng mín zhòng de bù mǎn qíng xù.
    He used rumors to incite public discontent.
  • 煽动。
    Zhèng fǔ yán lì dǎ jī rèn hé shān dòng bào lì de xíng wéi.
    The government severely cracks down on any act that incites violence.
  • 煽动。
    Bú yào bèi tā de yán lùn shān dòng qù zuò wéi fǎ de shì.
    Don't be incited by his words to do illegal things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

煽shānstir
动dòngmove

煽 and 动 both express stirring or setting things in motion, together meaning to incite or instigate.

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
扇
扇shàn煽shān
Same sound today

煽 has 火 on the left, showing a connection to fire, and 扇 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 煽 →

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 7-9Communication & Speech

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