打动

The word 打动 (dǎ dòng) is a beautiful way to describe the moment when someone's feelings are stirred. Think of it as a gentle knock on the door of someone's heart.

When you say something 打动 someone, you aren't just talking to them; you are connecting with their emotions. It is frequently used when a sincere apology or a kind act changes how a person feels about a situation.

The character 打 (dǎ) originally meant to strike or hit. In this context, it loses its violent connotation and becomes metaphorical, suggesting an impact on the spirit.

The character 动 (dòng) means to move. Together, they describe an emotional impact that causes a shift in one's inner state. It has been used in classical literature to describe the power of music and poetry to move the soul.

You will often see this word used with 人心 (people's hearts) or 真诚 (sincerity). It is a versatile verb used in both casual conversations and formal speeches.

Commonly, we say 被...打动 (to be moved by...). It is the perfect word to describe the effect of a touching movie or a heartfelt letter.

打动人心: To move people's hearts. Example: Her speech was very 打动人心.

感人肺腑: Deeply moving. Example: This story is 感人肺腑.

动之以情: To appeal to someone's emotions. Example: We tried to 动之以情 to change his mind.

触动心弦: To touch a chord. Example: That song really 触动心弦.

情深意切: Deep affection and sincere intent. Example: He wrote a 情深意切 letter.

As a verb, 打动 is transitive and usually takes a person or a heart as an object. It follows the structure: [Subject] + [打动] + [Object].

The pronunciation is 'da' (third tone) and 'dong' (fourth tone). It rhymes with words like 'song' (in terms of the 'ong' sound) and 'long'.