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行动 (xíng dòng) — (noun) action; operation; movement; (verb) to act; to take action

Definition

行动 is an action you deliberately take, especially toward a goal (a mission, a plan). Unlike 动作 (a physical movement or motion) and 移动 (to shift position), it emphasizes purpose, not bodily motion.

noun
actionoperationmovement
verb
to actto take action
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 行动。
    Zhè cì xíng dòng fēi cháng chéng gōng.
    This operation was very successful.
  • 行动。
    Wǒ men bì xū mǎ shàng xíng dòng.
    We must act immediately.
  • 行动。
    Zhè shì yí gè zhòng yào de xíng dòng.
    This is an important action.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

行xíngmove
动dòngmove

Moving and doing are placed side by side, so the word names an action, operation, or movement.

Characters in this word

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

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
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