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纹丝不动 (wén sī bù dòng) — absolutely still; motionless; not budging an inch

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'not moving a single thread' — emphasizes complete stillness, stronger than just 安静. Used for a person or thing that doesn't budge even under pressure (wind, surprise, emotion).

idiom
absolutely stillmotionlessnot budging an inch

Examples

  • 纹丝不动，。
    Tā zhàn zài nà lǐ wén sī bù dòng, xiàng yì zūn diāo xiàng.
    He stood there motionless, like a statue.
  • ，纹丝不动，。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā wén sī bù dòng dì zuò zhe, yí jù huà yě méi shuō.
    Upon hearing the news, she sat perfectly still without saying a word.
  • ，纹丝不动。
    Fēng hěn dà, dàn qí gān shàng de qí zhì wén sī bù dòng.
    The wind was strong, but the flag on the pole didn't move at all.

Origin

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 紋; 纹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
文
文wén紋
Same sound today

The traditional form 紋 pairs 糸 (thread) with 文 as the sound part, giving the sense of a line of thread; this note is about 紋, not 纹.

Open 纹 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 絲; 丝 is its simplified writing.

  • 糸糸mì
  • 糸糸mì

In the traditional form 絲, the shape is two 糸 written together; this is about 絲, not the simplified 丝.

Open 丝 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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