运动 (yùn dòng) — (noun) sports; physical exercise; (verb) to do physical exercise; to work out

Definition

运动 is the everyday word for 'sports' or 'to exercise' — as a noun it usually means sports or a workout (做运动), lighter than 锻炼 (training) and broader than 健身 (gym-style fitness).

noun
sportsphysical exercise
verb
to do physical exerciseto work out
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 运动。
    Wǒ měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu yùn dòng.
    I exercise every morning.
  • 运动。
    yùn dòng Ràng wǒ hěn gāo xìng.
    Exercise makes me very happy.
  • 运动。
    Wǒ men yì qǐ qù zuò yùn dòng ba.
    Let's go do some exercise together.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

运yùnmove
动dòngmove

运 and 动 both express movement, so the word means to move or exercise.

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 運; 运 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòmotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn運yùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 運 combines 辵, meaning motion, with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 运 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 运 →

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 2HSK 2.0 Level 2Fitness & ExerciseSports & Athletics2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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