动作

• Pinyin: dòng zuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 动 (move) + 作 (do, make) — movement, action

Meaning

Movement; action; gesture. A physical motion or series of motions.

Used for body movements (做动作, do movements), martial arts forms, dance moves, and film genre (动作片, action movie). Also used figuratively for speed: 动作快点 (hurry up, literally 'make your actions faster').

Examples

1. 请跟我做这个动作。 Please follow me and do this movement.
2. 他的动作很快。 His movements are very fast.
3. 老师教我们新的动作。 The teacher taught us new movements.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个动作很难。(This movement is very difficult.)
• 动作快点！(Hurry up!)

Don't Say

• 做一个动作运动 (Redundant — don't combine 动作 and 运动; use one or the other)

Origin & History

Compound of 动 (move) and 作 (do, make) — the doing of movement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal