跳动

• Pinyin: tiào dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 跳 = 足 + 兆 — to jump; 动 = 云 + 力 — to move

Meaning

To beat; to pulsate; to throb (of heart, pulse, flame, etc.).

Describes rhythmic movement, most commonly the beating of the heart or pulse. Also used for flickering flames, jumping numbers, or any rhythmic pulsing motion.

Examples

1. 医生把听诊器放在胸口，仔细听着心脏的跳动。 The doctor placed the stethoscope on the chest and carefully listened to the heartbeat.
2. 看到她走进来，他感觉心跳动得更快了。 Seeing her walk in, he felt his heart beating faster.
3. 屏幕上的数字不停跳动，股市行情瞬息万变。 The numbers on the screen kept jumping — the stock market changes every second.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, emotions, description

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 心在跳动。(The heart is beating.)
• 脉搏跳动正常。(Pulse is beating normally.)

Don't Say

• 用'跳动'描述单次跳跃 (跳动 implies rhythmic, repeated motion — for a single jump, use 跳 or 跳跃)

Origin & History

跳 means to jump, 动 means to move — jumping movement, pulsation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal