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跳动 (tiào dòng) — (of the heart, pulse, etc.) to throb, to pulse; (of an object, light, etc.) to bounce, to jiggle, to jump about

Definition

Emphasizes rhythmic pulsing or light bouncing — the heart, a light, a ball. 跳 is the basic verb 'to jump/hop'; 跳动 adds a sense of repeated, regular motion.

verb
(of the heart, pulse, etc.) to throbto pulse(of an object, light, etc.) to bounceto jiggleto jump about

Examples

  • ，跳动。
    Wǒ pǎo wán bù hòu, xīn zàng hái zài bù tíng dì tiào dòng.
    After I finished running, my heart was still pounding.
  • 跳动。
    Lán qiú zài dì shàng yòng lì tiào dòng le yí xià.
    The basketball gave a hard bounce on the ground.
  • 跳动。
    Jī qì de zhǐ shì dēng zài yǒu guī lǜ dì tiào dòng.
    The indicator light of the machine is pulsing regularly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

跳tiàojump
动dòngmove

'跳' jump and '动' movement together mean to throb or bounce.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →

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 7-9Body Parts

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