触动 (chùdòng)

触动 means to emotionally move or stir someone, or to touch on something sensitive, and sits between the physical act of touching and the deeper sense of being emotionally affected.

Meanings

[verb] to move (emotionally); to stir; to touch the heart
[verb] to touch; to disturb; to impinge on (something sensitive)

Example Sentences

这部电影深深触动了我的内心。 Zhè bù diànyǐng shēnshēn chùdòng le wǒ de nèixīn. This film deeply moved my heart.

他的故事触动了在场所有人。 Tā de gùshi chùdòng le zàichǎng suǒyǒu rén. His story moved everyone present.

不要触动他的痛处，他还没有走出来。 Bùyào chùdòng tā de tòngchù, tā hái méiyǒu zǒu chūlái. Do not touch on his sore spot; he has not yet moved past it.

一首老歌触动了她对童年的回忆。 Yī shǒu lǎo gē chùdòng le tā duì tóngnián de huíyì. An old song stirred her memories of childhood.

这篇文章触动了很多读者的心弦。 Zhè piān wénzhāng chùdòng le hěn duō dúzhě de xīnxián. This article struck a chord with many readers.

他的一席话触动了我，让我重新思考自己的选择。 Tā de yī xí huà chùdòng le wǒ, ràng wǒ chóngxīn sīkǎo zìjǐ de xuǎnzé. His words moved me and made me rethink my choices.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
触动内心 (chùdòng nèixīn)	to touch one's heart
触动心弦 (chùdòng xīnxián)	to strike a chord
触动情感 (chùdòng qínggǎn)	to stir emotions
触动痛处 (chùdòng tòngchù)	to touch a sore spot
深深触动 (shēnshēn chùdòng)	to deeply move

Usage Notes

触动 can be used for both emotional resonance (moving, stirring) and for touching on sensitive topics. In literary and journalistic writing it often describes a profound emotional impact. The object is typically an emotional state or memory (内心, 心弦, 情感) rather than a physical object.

Distinguish from 感动 (gǎndòng), which specifically means to be emotionally moved to a strong degree, often to tears. 触动 can be subtler and does not necessarily imply deep emotion -- it can also mean merely stirring or prompting reflection.

Memory Hook

触 (to touch/contact) + 动 (to move): to touch something so that it moves -- to touch someone emotionally.