运动

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 运动 (yùn dòng) is composed of two parts: 氵(water) and 动 (move). The original meaning of 运动 is "water flowing", which is related to the concept of "movement". In ancient Chinese, 运动 was used to describe the movement of water, such as waves and tides. Later, it was extended to refer to the movement of objects in general. In modern Chinese, 运动 is used to refer to physical exercise, sports, and other activities that involve physical movement. The character 运动 is also used in a figurative sense to refer to social movements and political campaigns.