Meaning
The kanji 動 (DŌ) primarily means "movement," "motion," or "action." It's a crucial character in Japanese, forming the basis for many verbs and nouns related to both physical and abstract changes. Essentially, 動 describes a shift from stillness to activity. This can be a physical object changing position, an emotion stirring within, or a machine performing its function. It captures the essence of being active rather than passive, and of change rather than stillness.
From an etymological perspective, 動 is a compound ideograph. It combines two simpler components to create its meaning. The left component is 重, meaning "heavy" or "weighty." On the right is the radical 力, which means "power" or "strength." When combined, these elements illustrate the concept clearly: moving something 重い (heavy) requires 力 (strength). This combination captures the essence of "movement" – the exertion of force needed to overcome inertia and start motion. This ancient design effectively shows that movement, especially of something substantial, demands effort and power.
With 11 strokes, 動 is taught in the 3rd grade of Japanese elementary school. This makes it an essential character learned relatively early in a student's education. Its widespread use across various contexts highlights its importance in the Japanese language, making it a cornerstone for understanding both basic and complex actions.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi are readings that originated from Chinese pronunciations and are often used in compound words (熟語, じゅくご). For 動, the primary on'yomi is ドウ (DŌ). This reading is very common in modern Japanese, appearing in a wide range of vocabulary related to movement, activity, and change. When 動 appears in a compound, it almost always takes the ドウ reading. This provides a consistent phonetic cue to its meaning. Understanding this reading is important for many scientific, administrative, and emotional terms, as it often forms the core of more abstract concepts of motion or change.
ドウ (DŌ)
運動 (undō) — exercise, motion. This refers to physical activity or the movement of objects in physics. It can also describe a political or social movement.
動物 (dōbutsu) — animal. Living beings characterized by their ability to move and respond to stimuli, as opposed to plants.
感動 (kandō) — deep emotion, impression. The 'movement' of one's heart or feelings due to a strong experience, often leading to being deeply touched.
活動 (katsudō) — activity, action. A general term for engaging in something, often implying purpose and energy, such as volunteer activities or club activities.
自動 (jidō) — automatic, self-moving. Describes something that operates without direct human intervention, such as automatic doors.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings that are often used when the kanji stands alone or is part of an adjective or verb ending. For 動, there are two main kun'yomi, both derived from verbs that reflect the core meaning of movement: うご-く (ugo-ku) and うご-かす (ugo-kasu). These readings are essential for expressing the nuance of movement in everyday speech. They differentiate between something moving by itself and something being moved by an external agent.
うご.く (ugo.ku) — to move (intransitive verb). This reading is used when something moves by itself or is in a state of motion, without a direct object being moved by an external force. It can also mean to work, to function, or to stir.
動く (ugoku) — to move, to work, to stir. (e.g., The clock is moving/working; people are moving in the city.)
動き (ugoki) — movement, motion, trend. (e.g., The movement of a dancer; a trend in the market.)
動き出す (ugokidasu) — to start moving, to set off, to activate. (e.g., The train started moving.)
うご.かす (ugo.kasu) — to move (transitive verb). This reading is used when someone or something causes another thing to move, indicating a direct action upon an object. It signifies manipulation or causation of movement.
動かす (ugokasu) — to move something, to operate, to shift. (e.g., To move a table; to operate a machine.)
心を動かす (kokoro o ugokasu) — to move one's heart/emotions. (e.g., A touching story moves one's heart.)
体を動かす (karada o ugokasu) — to move one's body, to exercise. (e.g., To move one's body to stay healthy.)
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 動 is highly versatile, forming the basis for many words that describe various types of movement, action, and change. These compounds demonstrate its adaptability, ranging from physical locomotion to abstract concepts and emotional responses. It plays an integral role in expressing the dynamism of life and the world.
General Movement & Action:
自動 (jidō) — automatic, self-moving. (e.g., 自動販売機 - vending machine)
起動 (kidō) — startup, activation. (e.g., コンピューターを起動する - to boot up a computer)
稼動 (kadō) — operation, working (e.g., a machine). (e.g., 工場が稼動している - The factory is in operation.)
機動 (kidō) — maneuver, mobility (e.g., a military unit). (e.g., 機動部隊 - mobile unit)
発動 (hatsudō) — activation, invocation. (e.g., 緊急事態を発動する - to declare a state of emergency)
Living Beings & Nature:
動物 (dōbutsu) — animal. (e.g., 野生動物 - wild animals)
振動 (shindō) — vibration, oscillation. (e.g., 地震の振動 - earthquake vibration)
変動 (hendō) — fluctuation, change, variation. (e.g., 価格変動 - price fluctuation)
原動力 (gendōryoku) — driving force, motive power. (e.g., 経済の原動力 - the driving force of the economy)
Emotional & Mental Movement:
感動 (kandō) — deep emotion, impression. (e.g., 感動的な映画 - a moving film)
動揺 (dōyō) — disturbance, agitation, mental unrest. (e.g., 心の動揺 - mental agitation)
衝動 (shōdō) — impulse, urge. (e.g., 衝動買い - impulse buying)
Other Important Compounds:
動的 (dōteki) — dynamic, active. (e.g., 動的なプロセス - a dynamic process)
不動産 (fudōsan) — real estate (literally "immovable property"). (e.g., 不動産投資 - real estate investment)
動議 (dōgi) — motion (in a meeting). (e.g., 動議を提出する - to submit a motion)
These examples show how 動 serves as a cornerstone for expressing everything from a car starting to the complex emotional stirrings of the human heart. Its presence indicates a transition from stillness to activity, from potential to realization. This makes it an essential component of the Japanese lexicon. The combination with other kanji often specifies the nature or direction of the movement, providing rich layers of meaning and allowing for nuanced expression across diverse fields.
Example Sentences
この時計はまだ動いています。
Kono tokei wa mada ugoite imasu.
This clock is still working/moving.
彼は毎日運動して、体を動かしています。
Kare wa mainichi undō shite, karada o ugokashite imasu.
He exercises every day and moves his body.
動物園でたくさんの動物を見ました。
Dōbutsuen de takusan no dōbutsu o mimashita.
I saw many animals at the zoo.
先生の話に私はとても感動しました。
Sensei no hanashi ni watashi wa totemo kandō shimashita.
I was very moved by the teacher's story.
ボタンを押すと、機械が自動的に動き始めます。
Botan o osu to, kikai ga jidōteki ni ugokihajimemasu.
When you push the button, the machine starts moving automatically.
彼の一言が私の心を動かしました。
Kare no hitokoto ga watashi no kokoro o ugokashimashita.
His single word moved my heart.
地震で建物が激しく振動した。
Jishin de tatemono ga hageshiku shindō shita.
The building vibrated violently in the earthquake.
景気の変動は生活に大きな影響を与えます。
Keiki no hendō wa seikatsu ni ōkina eikyō o ataemasu.
Economic fluctuations have a big impact on daily life.
彼は衝動的に新しい車を買ってしまった。
Kare wa shōdōteki ni atarashii kuruma o katte shimatta.
He impulsively bought a new car.
Related Kanji
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 以 — By Means Of, With, From (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
- 短 — Short, brief, defect (Kanji N4)
- 田 — Rice Field (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 動, visualize its two components: 重 (heavy) on the left and 力 (power/strength) on the right. Imagine a very 重い (heavy) box that you need to 動かす (move). It will certainly require a lot of 力 (power) to make it 動く (move). This imagery directly links the visual composition of the kanji to its core meaning. Imagine a strong person grunting and straining, using all their 力 to get that 重い object into 動 (motion). The greater the 重さ (weight), the more 力 is needed to create 動き (movement). This mnemonic helps reinforce the idea that significant movement often requires considerable effort.