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轻举妄动 (qīng jǔ wàng dòng) — to act rashly; to make a move without careful consideration

Definition

A chengyu warning against reckless action — 'to act rashly, without careful thought.' 轻 ('lightly') + 妄 ('recklessly') emphasize doing something carelessly, not committing a wrong act.

idiom
to act rashlyto make a move without careful consideration

Examples

  • ，轻举妄动。
    Zài qíng kuàng bù míng zhī qián, bú yào qīng jǔ wàng dòng.
    Don't act rashly before the situation is clear.
  • 轻举妄动，。
    Tā yīn wèi qīng jǔ wàng dòng, dǎo zhì zhěng gè jì huà shī bài.
    Because he acted recklessly, the entire plan failed.
  • ，，轻举妄动。
    Lǐng dǎo tí xǐng dà jiā, rèn hé jué dìng dōu yào shèn zhòng, bù kě qīng jǔ wàng dòng.
    The leader reminded everyone that any decision must be made carefully and not acted upon rashly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

轻举rash action
轻qīngrash举jǔaction
偏正Modifier + head
妄动reckless movement
妄wàngreckless动dòngmovement
偏正Modifier + head

"轻举" suggests a rash action and "妄动" a reckless movement, together meaning to act without thought.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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 舉; 举 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
與
與yǔ舉jǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 舉 pairs 與, which gives the sound, with 手, a hand; the simplified 举 is a later shorthand.

Open 举 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
亡
亡wáng妄wàng
Same sound today

妄 combines 亡, which supplies the sound, with 女, a woman.

Open 妄 →

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
Idioms & Set Phrases

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