动作
movement; action; motion
dòngzuò
What does 动作 mean?
动作 (dòngzuò) is a noun meaning a physical 'movement,' 'motion,' or 'action' — the way the body moves in sports, dance, martial arts, or exercise: 这个动作很难 ('this move is hard'), 舞蹈动作 ('dance movements'). It combines 动 ('to move') and 作 ('to do / make'). English speakers should be careful: 'action' in English also covers deeds, plots, and initiatives, but 动作 is narrower — it refers to bodily movements and gestures, plus a figurative sense of 'making a move' quickly (快点，有动作了, 'hurry, something's happening').
For 'action' in the sense of a deed or measure you'd use 行动 (xíngdòng) or 行为 (xíngwéi). 动作 is neutral in register. It also appears in 动作片 (dòngzuòpiàn, 'action movie') and as a verb-ish descriptor 动作快 ('quick / fast-moving'), meaning someone acts speedily.
Character breakdown
to move
to do; to make; action
Memory hook: 动 (move) + 作 (do) → a doing-move = a physical action or movement.
Measure word for 动作
Example sentences
这个舞蹈动作有点儿难。
Zhège wǔdǎo dòngzuò yǒudiǎnr nán.
This dance move is a bit hard.
spoken
快一点，动作快！
Kuài yìdiǎn, dòngzuò kuài!
Hurry up, move faster!
spoken
教练教了我们一套新动作。
Jiàoliàn jiāo le wǒmen yí tào xīn dòngzuò.
The coach taught us a new set of movements.
neutral
他的每个动作都很标准。
Tā de měi gè dòngzuò dōu hěn biāozhǔn.
Every one of his movements is precise.
written
Common phrases with 动作
Synonyms
行动 means 'action' in the sense of taking measures or moving toward a goal (采取行动, 'take action'), and can be a verb. 动作 is a concrete physical movement of the body. Don't mix them: 采取行动 not 采取动作.
举动 means a 'move / act / behavior' with a slight focus on what someone does and its significance (可疑的举动, 'a suspicious move'). 动作 is the neutral physical movement itself.
Don't confuse 动作 with
FAQ
Acquire by listening
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