Chinese–EnglishWith examples

动机

dòng jī · dong ji

Traditional 動機

HSK 5Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. motive; motivation
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

Who ate the dumplings?

  1. Liangliang

    谁(shéi)把(bǎ)冰箱(bīngxiāng)里(lǐ)的(de)饺子(jiǎozi)吃了(chīle)？

    Who ate the dumplings in the fridge?

  2. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)人(rén)的(de)动机(dòngjī)是(shì)什么(shénme)？

    What is this person's motive?

  3. Liangliang

    当然(dāngrán)是(shì)饺子(jiǎozi)太(tài)好吃(hǎochī)了(le)。

    Of course because the dumplings are too tasty.

  4. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)动机(dòngjī)不只(bùzhǐ)是(shì)这个(zhège)，他(tā)还(hái)想(xiǎng)让(ràng)我们(wǒmen)生气(shēngqì)。

    I think the motive is not only this. He also wanted to make us angry.

  5. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)知道(zhīdào)了(le)，你(nǐ)的(de)动机(dòngjī)最(zuì)大(dà)，你(nǐ)嘴角(zuǐjiǎo)还有(háiyǒu)饺子皮(jiǎozipí)！

    Now I know. Your motive is the biggest. There's dumpling wrapper at the corner of your mouth!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)那(nà)样(yàng)做(zuò)有(yǒu)什(shén)么(me)动(dòng)机(jī)？

What was his motive for doing it?

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CH · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

警(jǐng)方(fāng)仍(réng)在(zài)调(diào)查(chá)这(zhè)起(qǐ)案(àn)件(jiàn)的(de)作(zuò)案(àn)动(dòng)机(jī)。

The police are still investigating the motive for this case.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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