移动

• Pinyin: yí dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 移 = to move or shift; 动 = 云 (cloud) + 力 (strength) in simplified form, to move or act

Meaning

To move; to shift. Also used as an attributive adjective meaning mobile or portable.

Both a verb (移动桌子 — to move the table) and an attributive adjective (移动支付 — mobile payment, 移动设备 — mobile device). In modern usage, 移动 has taken on strong associations with wireless technology: 移动互联网 (mobile internet), 移动通信 (mobile communication). Also the name of China Mobile (中国移动).

Examples

1. 工人们正在把办公室的桌椅移动到新楼层。 Workers are moving the desks and chairs from the office to the new floor.
2. 现在大家都用移动支付，很少使用现金了。 Nowadays everyone uses mobile payment and cash is rarely used.
3. 受伤后他的腿很疼，移动起来非常困难。 After the injury, his leg hurt a great deal and moving around was very difficult.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, technology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请不要移动这些文件，我还需要用。(Please don't move these files — I still need them.)
• 移动支付让购物变得更加方便快捷。(Mobile payment has made shopping much more convenient and efficient.)

Don't Say

• 把'移动'和'运动'混用 (Don't confuse 移动 with 运动 — 移动 refers to the physical shifting of position, while 运动 refers to physical exercise or a social movement)

Origin & History

A compound of 移 (to move/shift) and 动 (to move/act, from 云 cloud + 力 strength in simplified form). Together they reinforce the idea of motion and movement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal