运动

• Pinyin: yùn dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 运 = 辶 (movement radical) + 云 (phonetic); 动 = 云 (simplified phonetic) + 力 (strength/force)

Meaning

Exercise; sport; to exercise. Physical activity for health or competition.

As a noun, refers to sports and exercise in general. As a verb, means 'to exercise' or 'to do physical activity.' Very common in daily life — 运动会 (sports meet), 运动鞋 (trainers/sneakers), 运动员 (athlete). Can also mean 'movement' in political contexts, but this is beyond HSK 2.

Examples

1. 医生说我应该多运动。 The doctor said I should exercise more.
2. 你最喜欢什么运动？ What's your favourite sport?
3. 我每天早上去公园运动。 I go to the park to exercise every morning.

Usage Guide

Context: health, sports, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们一起去运动吧！(Let's go exercise together!)
• 运动对身体很好。(Exercise is good for your health.)

Don't Say

• 我每天运动运动。(Don't reduplicate 运动 this way — say 我每天运动一下 or 我每天做做运动.)

Origin & History

Compound of 运 (to move, to transport) and 动 (to move, motion). Together they mean 'movement' or 'physical activity.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal