推动

• Pinyin: tuī dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 推 = 扌 (hand) + 隹 (short-tailed bird, phonetic) — pushing with the hand; 动 = 云 (cloud, phonetic) + 力 (strength)

Meaning

To push forward; to promote; to drive. Describes the act of advancing or facilitating progress.

Commonly used in formal contexts to describe promoting development, progress, or change. Often appears in news and political discourse, such as 推动经济发展 (promote economic development) or 推动改革 (drive reform).

Examples

1. 科技的发展推动了社会的进步。 The development of technology has driven social progress.
2. 政府正在推动新的教育改革。 The government is promoting new educational reforms.
3. 这项政策推动了农村经济的发展。 This policy has promoted the development of the rural economy.

Usage Guide

Context: news, politics, business

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 我们要推动这个项目向前发展。(We need to push this project forward.)
• 技术创新推动了行业变革。(Technological innovation has driven industry changes.)

Don't Say

• 我推动了他一下。(For physically pushing someone, use 推 alone, not 推动. 推动 is for abstract or large-scale promotion.)

Origin & History

推 means 'to push' and 动 means 'to move'. Together they mean to push something into motion or to propel forward.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal