HSK Level 2

行动

xíng dòng

operation; move about; mobile

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Example Sentences

我正在行动。

wǒ zhèngzài xíngdòng.

I am taking action.

我们必须采取行动。

wǒmen bìxū cǎiqǔ xíngdòng.

We must take action.

他正在采取行动。

tā zhèngzài cǎiqǔ xíngdòng.

He is taking action.

Synonyms

举动 (jǔ dòng)

action; move

行为 (xíng wéi)

behavior; conduct

Antonyms

静止 (jìngzhǐ)

stillness

不动 (bù dòng)

immobility

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 行动 (xíngdòng) is composed of two characters: 行 (xíng), meaning "to go" or "to do", and 动 (dòng), meaning "to move" or "to act". Together, these characters convey the idea of "taking action" or "putting something into motion".The word 行动 has a long history in the Chinese language, dating back to the ancient oracle bone script. In this early form, the character 行 was depicted as a person walking, while the character 动 was depicted as a hand holding a stick. Over time, the characters evolved into their modern forms, but their meanings remained largely the same.In modern Chinese, 行动 is used in a variety of contexts to refer to the act of taking action or doing something. For example, it can be used to describe the actions of a person, an organization, or even a government. It can also be used to refer to the process of taking action, such as the planning and execution of a project.The word 行动 is an important part of the Chinese language, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts. By understanding the etymology of this word, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and usage.