HSK 7-9
动不动就……
dòng bù dòng jiù...
At the slightest provocation; always
Structure
Subject + 动不动 + 就 + Verb / Predicate
How it works
This structure is used to indicate that an action or a situation occurs very frequently or easily, often in a way that is seen as negative, annoying, or excessive. It suggests that something happens at the slightest provocation or for no particular reason at all.
Examples
现在的年轻人动不动就辞职，这让很多老板感到困惑。
Xiànzài de niánqīngrén dòng bù dòng jiù cízhí, zhè ràng hěnduō lǎobǎn gǎndào kùnhuò.
Young people nowadays quit their jobs at the drop of a hat, which leaves many bosses feeling puzzled.
他脾气不好，动不动就对同事大发雷霆。
Tā píqi bù hǎo, dòng bù dòng jiù duì tóngshì dà fā léi tíng.
He has a bad temper and is prone to fly into a rage at his colleagues over the slightest thing.
由于气候变暖，这个地区动不动就发生洪涝灾害。
Yóuyú qìhòu biànnuǎn, zhège dìqū dòng bù dòng jiù fāshēng hónglào zāihài.
Due to global warming, this region frequently experiences floods and waterlogging disasters.
Common mistakes
Avoid using this structure for positive or desirable habits; it almost always carries a tone of dissatisfaction, criticism, or description of a problematic frequency.
Tip
Think of '动不动' as 'with or without movement' or 'no matter what happens,' implying the action is triggered so easily that the threshold is almost zero.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 动不动就…… in real Chinese
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