动人

• Pinyin: dòng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 动 (move/stir) + 人 (person)

Meaning

Moving; touching; affecting. Describes something that deeply stirs emotions.

Used to describe stories, music, speeches, or scenes that evoke strong emotions such as sympathy, admiration, or sadness. Can also describe physical beauty in literary contexts, as in 动人的微笑 (a captivating smile).

Examples

1. 他讲了一个非常动人的故事。 He told a very touching story.
2. 她的歌声真的很动人。 Her singing voice is truly moving.
3. 这部电影有很多动人的场面。 This film has many moving scenes.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, music, storytelling

Tone: emotional

Do Say

• 这首歌的旋律非常动人。(The melody of this song is very moving.)
• 她讲述了一段动人的经历。(She told a moving story about her experience.)

Don't Say

• 这个菜很动人 (Don't use 动人 for food — it describes emotional impact, not flavour; use 好吃 or 美味 for food)

Origin & History

Compound of 动 (move, stir) and 人 (person), literally 'move-people,' meaning to touch or stir people emotionally.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal