N4 kanji · 11 strokes
動 means move
動
重 heavy · 力 strength
動Memory trick
Heavy (重) things need strength (力): to move.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- move, motion, change, confusion
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 11
- School grade
- Grade 3 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) うごく ugoku
うごく (ugoku) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: うごかす ugokasu
From Chinese (onyomi) ドウ dou
ドウ (dou) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
動かす うごかす · ugokasu
to move, to shift
Built from
- 丿 a sweeping stroke
- 一 one
- 里 village
- 力 power
- 丨 a line
- 日 sun, day
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
里 Used in 19 kanji
See all 5 at N5 and N4力 Used in 35 kanji
See all 5 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 動 mean?
Right: 動 means move.Not quite: 動 means move.In 動かす, which reading does 動 use?
Right. 動かす is read うごかす (ugokasu): 動 takes うご, its Japanese reading, with かす after it.Not quite. 動かす is read うごかす (ugokasu): 動 takes うご, its Japanese reading, with かす after it.