How to write 动 (dòng, “to move”)
动 (dòng), an HSK 2 character, means “to move”, “to set in movement” and “to displace”. It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. The traditional form is 動, 11 strokes instead of 6. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 运动 (“to move”), 运动会 (“sports competition”) and 动物 (“animal”). Japanese keeps the traditional 動, read dou (“move”).
- Pinyin
- dòng
- Strokes
- 6
- HSK
- 2
- Radical
- 力 (“power”)
- Traditional
- 動
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
As a left-right character it splits into 云 (“cloud”), strokes 1–4; 力 (“power”, the radical), strokes 5–6, written the left part first.
- top leftrightwards
- leftrightwards
- leftdown and left → rightwards
- centerdown and right
- centerrightwards → downwards
- top rightdownwards → down and left
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 动 · 6 strokes
- Traditional
- 動 · 11 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| dòng fourth tone | (of sth) to move; to set in movement; to displace; to touch; to make use of | 動 | 运动 运动会 动物 动物园 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 2
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 556 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 动
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 动 動 | dòng | to move; to set in movement HSK 2 |
| 运动 運動 | yùndòng | to move; to exercise HSK 2 |
| 运动会 運動會 | yùndònghuì | sports competition HSK 3 |
| 动物 動物 | dòngwù | animal HSK 3 |
| 动物园 動物園 | dòngwùyuán | zoo HSK 3 |
| 运动员 運動員 | yùndòngyuán | athlete HSK 3 |
| 动作 動作 | dòngzuò | movement; motion HSK 4 |
| 动车 動車 | dòngchē | (PRC) (D- or C-class) high-speed train; power car HSK 4 |
| 电动车 電動車 | diàndòngchē | electric vehicle… HSK 4 |
| 感动 感動 | gǎndòng | to move (sb); to touch (sb emotionally) HSK 4 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.
Keep going
HSK 2, in list order: