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动不动

動不動
dòngbudòng
adverb HSK 7-9 #15,251

Meanings

  1. 1 at the slightest provocation; easily; at every turn

Characters

动
dòng
to move; to act
不
bu
not
Literally 'move or not move' — meaning 'regardless of whether there's reason to,' implying something happens too easily or too often.

Examples

他动不动就发脾气。
Tā dòngbudòng jiù fāpíqi.
He loses his temper at the slightest thing.
这个孩子动不动就哭。
Zhège háizi dòngbudòng jiù kū.
This child cries at the drop of a hat.
现在的手机动不动就好几千块。
Xiànzài de shǒujī dòngbudòng jiù hǎojǐ qiān kuài.
Phones nowadays easily cost several thousand yuan.

Tips

grammar
动不动 is almost always followed by 就 (jiù). The pattern 动不动就… expresses annoyance that something happens too frequently or too easily. It always carries a negative or complaining tone.

Stroke Order

动 dòng
不 bù