飘动 (piāo dòng) — to flutter, to float, to wave (in the air or water)

Definition

verb
to flutterto floatto wave (in the air or water)

Examples

  • ，飘动。
    Fēng chuī guò de shí hou, hóng qí kāi shǐ piāo dòng.
    When the wind blows, the red flag begins to flutter.
  • 飘动。
    Shù yè zài wēi fēng zhōng qīng qīng piāo dòng.
    The leaves gently flutter in the breeze.
  • 飘动。
    Tā de cháng fà zài fēng zhōng piāo dòng.
    Her long hair wafts in the wind.

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.

飘piāofloat
动dòngmove

飘 and 动 both describe moving lightly in air or water, so together they mean to flutter or wave.

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 飄; 飘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
風風fēngwind
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào飄piāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 飄 uses 票 for the sound and 風 for wind; the simplified 飘 is a shorthand.

Open 飘 →

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 →

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