动员

• Pinyin: dòng yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 动 (move) + 员 = 口 (mouth) + 贝 (shell/money)

Meaning

To mobilize; to rally; mobilization. To organize and prepare people for action.

Originally a military term for mobilizing troops, now widely used for rallying support, persuading people to participate, or organizing collective action. Common in political, social, and family contexts.

Examples

1. 政府动员全社会力量参与抗灾救援。 The government mobilized the whole society to participate in disaster relief.
2. 她好不容易才动员丈夫一起去健身。 She finally managed to get her husband to go to the gym with her.
3. 公司动员全体员工参加植树活动。 The company mobilized all employees to participate in the tree-planting activity.

Usage Guide

Context: military, politics, organization

Tone: action-oriented

Do Say

• 动员群众参与。(Mobilize the masses to participate.)
• 全面动员起来。(Fully mobilize.)

Don't Say

• '动员'强调组织性的集体行动——简单地叫朋友做事用'叫'或'请'更自然 (动员 emphasizes organized collective action — for simply asking friends to do something, 叫 or 请 is more natural)

Origin & History

Compound of 动 (move, activate) + 员 (member, person), meaning to move people into action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal