动 (dòng) means "to move, to act" with 6 strokes, radical 力 (power), HSK 2 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: to move
Other meanings:
- to act
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
动 is the simplified form of 動, a phono-semantic compound rather than a pictograph. The traditional 動 combines 重 (heavy, also supplying the phonetic value) with 力 (strength), suggesting the effort needed to move something heavy. No direct oracle-bone ancestor exists for this exact form; 動 appears in bronze inscriptions already as a compound.
Form evolution
Bronze and seal script show 動 with 重 on the left and 力 on the right in recognisable form. Clerical script regularised the strokes of 重 and squared the 力. The PRC simplification of 1956 replaced 重 with the much simpler 云 component, producing 动; Taiwan and Hong Kong retain 動.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning was to set in motion, to move something by applying force. This extended to intransitive movement (to move, to stir), to emotional movement (to be moved, 感动), and to the grammatical sense of action (动词, verb). Modern Mandarin uses 动 extremely broadly for any kind of movement, physical or abstract.
Cultural note
The compound 动力 (motive power, motivation) preserves both components of the traditional form 重+力, now visually lost in the simplified 动. The phrase 一动不动 (not moving at all) uses the character twice to emphasise complete stillness.
Mnemonic
Clouds pushed by force — to move
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | dòng |
| Meanings | to move, to act |
| Stroke count | 6 strokes |
| Radical | 力 (#19: power) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 2 |
| Frequency | #6 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 动
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 动 | dòng | to move | HSK 2 |
| 运动 | yùndòng | exercise | HSK 2 |
| 动物 | dòngwù | Animal | HSK 3 |
| 得（助动词） | děi | have to | |
| 动作 | dòngzuò | action | HSK 4 |
| 感动 | gǎndòng | Be moved | HSK 4 |
| 活动 | huódòng | activity | HSK 4 |
| 激动 | jīdòng | Excited | HSK 4 |
| 动画片 | dònghuàpiàn | Cartoon | |
| 劳动 | láodòng | labour | HSK 5 |
| 生动 | shēngdòng | vivid | HSK 5 |
| 自动 | zìdòng | automatic | HSK 5 |
| 行动 | xíngdòng | Get some action | HSK 5 |
| 移动 | yídòng | move | HSK 5 |
| 振动 | zhèndòng | Vibration | HSK 7-9 |
| 主动 | zhǔdòng | active | HSK 5 |
| 被动 | bèidòng | passive | HSK 6 |
| 波动 | bōdòng | to fluctuate, fluctuation | HSK 7-9 |
| 不动声色 | bùdòngshēngsè | maintain one's composure | |
| 冲动 | chōngdòng | impulse, impulsive | HSK 6 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (action)
On the new HSK 2 exam
Studying for HSK 2? Keep 动 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.