動
move · motion · change · confusion · shift · shake
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of heavy and power. Power to move heavy things.
Symbolism
Action, exercise, emotion. Represents change and vitality.
Component Breakdown
left-right: 重 + power
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一挙一動
いっきょいちどう
one's every action; every single move
驚天動地
きょうてんどうち
astounding; startling; world-shaking
軽挙妄動
けいきょもうどう
rash and blind act
直立不動
ちょくりつふどう
standing at attention; standing stiffly upright
行動半径
こうどうはんけい
radius of action; combat radius; sphere of activity
確固不動
かっこふどう
unshakeable (e.g. belief); invincible; steadfastness
陽動作戦
ようどうさくせん
diversionary tactics
震天動地
しんてんどうち
earth-shaking
教唆扇動
きょうさせんどう
instigation and abetment
大山鳴動
たいざんめいどう
big fuss over nothing; much cry and little wool; much ado about nothing
気韻生動
きいんせいどう
being animated (vivid) with grace (elegance, refinement)
雲煙飛動
うんえんひどう
flying clouds and drifting haze; magnificent calligraphy; vivid penmanship
強権発動
きょうけんはつどう
invoking the coercive power of the state; calling upon the power of the state
Proverbs & Idioms
動かぬ証拠
うごかぬしょうこ
Undeniable evidence
Proof that cannot be disputed
Poetry
塚も動け我泣く声は秋の風
Move, gravemound — the sound of my weeping is the autumn wind.
Anime & Manga
機動戦士ガンダム
Mobile Suit Gundam
Origin of mecha anime fighting with 'mobile' weapons.
ハウルの動く城
Howl‘s Moving Castle
A well-known work with 動 in its Japanese title.
GHOST IN THE SHELL / 攻殻機動隊
Ghost in the Shell
A well-known work with 動 in its Japanese title.
ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン 外伝~永遠と自動手記人形~
Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll
A well-known work with 動 in its Japanese title.
チ。-地球の運動について-
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
A well-known work with 動 in its Japanese title.
Games
どうぶつの森
Animal Crossing(2001)
Developer: Nintendo
Slow life living with 'animals.'
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 動 mean in Japanese?
動 means move, motion, change, confusion, shift, shake.
How do you read 動?
On'yomi: ドウ (DOU). Kun'yomi: うご.く、うご.かす (ugoku, ugokasu).
How many strokes does 動 have?
動 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 力 (power).
Is 動 a good kanji for a tattoo?
動 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means move, motion, change, confusion, shift, shake. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.