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触动 (chù dòng) — to touch (physically); to stir up, to move, to provoke (emotions, memories, reactions)

Definition

Used for something that 'touches' you emotionally — a story, a remark, a memory that stirs feelings. 感动 focuses on the listener being moved; 打动 emphasizes winning someone over. For physical contact, use 触摸.

verb
to touch (physically)to stir upto moveto provoke (emotions, memories, reactions)

Examples

  • 触动。
    Tā de shǒu zhǐ qīng qīng chù dòng le qín jiàn.
    His fingers gently touched the piano keys.
  • 触动。
    Zhè ge gù shi shēn shēn chù dòng le wǒ de xīn.
    This story deeply moved my heart.
  • 触动。
    Tā de yán lùn chù dòng le gōng zhòng de fèn nù.
    His remarks stirred up public anger.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

触chùtouch
动dòngmove

触 means to touch and 动 means to move; touching something makes it move, or stirs emotions.

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 觸; 触 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
角角jiǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ觸chù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 觸 uses 角 for the meaning and 蜀 for the sound; the simplified 触 is a later shorthand.

Open 触 →

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 7-9Emotions & FeelingsSenses

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