verb / noun HSK 5
Traditional 震動
zhèn dòng
to vibrate · to shake · to shock · vibration · 震动

Meaning

震动 refers to physical vibration or shaking, as well as emotional shock or being deeply moved. It can describe literal trembling motion (like an earthquake or a vibrating phone) or figurative impact (like news that shocks society). The word combines the sense of a powerful tremor with the effect it produces.

Usage

Commonly used in both physical and emotional contexts. For physical vibration, it describes mechanical shaking or seismic movement. For emotional impact, it means something profoundly affects or shakes up people's hearts or society. Often appears in formal or written contexts when describing significant events or reactions.

Examples

  1. 01
    地震使整个建筑物都震动起来。
    zhèn shǐ zhěng jiàn zhù dōu zhèn dòng lái.
    The earthquake caused the entire building to shake.
  2. 02
    这个消息震动了整个社会。
    Zhè ge xiāo xi zhèn dòng le zhěng shè huì.
    This news shocked the entire society.

Characters

Measure words

  • 感到一次震动
  • zhèn一阵震动

Common collocations

  • 震动全国
    zhèn dòng quán guó
    to shock the whole nation
  • 引起震动
    yǐn zhèn dòng
    to cause a震动/震动
  • 手机震动
    shǒu zhèn dòng
    phone vibration
  • 震动人心
    zhèn dòng rén xīn
    to震动 people's hearts

Antonyms

Origin

震 originally depicted thunder and earthquake tremors, carrying the sense of powerful shaking. Combined with 动 (movement), 震动 emphasizes the action and effect of shaking or vibrating.

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