移动 (yí dòng) — to move, to shift, to migrate | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

General-purpose 'to move' for objects, people, or animals changing position. 迁徙/迁移 are more formal and typically describe migration over distance; 行动 means 'to take action'.

verb

to moveto shiftto migrate

Examples

移动。
Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng yǐ zi yí dòng dào nà biān.
Please move this chair over there.
移动。
Yú r zài shuǐ zhōng màn màn yí dòng.
The fish move slowly in the water.
，移动。
Měi nián dōng tiān, zhè xiē niǎo dōu wǎng nán fāng yí dòng.
Every winter, these birds move south.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

移 and 动 both express changing position, so 移动 means 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.

禾多移

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

多

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

移 pairs 禾, a grain plant, with 多, which gives the sound.

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.

重力動

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.

Appears in

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