dung6動动
Jyutpingdung6
Yaleduhng
Definition
To move; to change state or position.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 動 is a standard morpheme in written Chinese, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese. Instead, native speakers almost exclusively use 郁 to describe physical movement or shifting position. You will encounter 動 in compound words like 運動 or 自動, but using it in place of 郁 in a casual conversation will sound stiff or overly formal.
Related words
Common phrases
to start doing something or to hit someone
fidgeting or moving around restlessly
Common mistake
Avoid using 動 as a direct translation for the verb to move when talking about people or objects. Using 郁 is the natural choice for physical movement, whereas 動 is reserved for abstract concepts or formal vocabulary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
