一动不动

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yí dòng bú dòng
• English Translation: Motionless, not moving a muscle, still
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（Completely, not at all）＋「动」（To move）＋「不」（Not）＋「动」（To move）
• Meaning: Describes a state of being completely still or stationary. It can be used not only for physical immobility but also to indicate that a situation or state remains unchanged.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一动不动」 contains the following nuances:

• Complete stillness: Describes a state of complete lack of movement, either physically or metaphorically.
• Silence: Indicates that the surrounding environment is quiet, or that a person or object is being still.
• Stability: Means that a situation or state is stable and unchanging.
• Patience: Can also describe a state of patiently enduring something.
• Fear or surprise: Can also refer to a state of being frozen with fear or surprise.

3. Usage

「一动不动」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Physical stillness: Used to describe a person or object that is actually not moving.
  • Example:「他站在那里一动不动，像一尊雕塑。」
    （He stood there motionless, like a sculpture.）
• Unchanging state: Describes a situation or state that remains unchanged.
  • Example:「尽管市场发生了巨大变化，这家公司的经营策略却一动不动。」
    （Despite significant market changes, the company's business strategy remains unchanged.）
• Expressing emotions: Describes a state where the body is unable to move due to emotions such as fear, surprise, or tension.
  • Example:「听到这个消息，她吓得一动不动，脸色苍白。」
    （Hearing the news, she was so scared she froze, her face pale.）

Additional Examples:

1. 那只猫躺在阳光下一动不动地睡着了。
   （The cat lay sleeping motionlessly in the sun.）
2. 老师让犯错误的学生在教室后面罚站，他一动不动地站了一个小时。
   （The teacher made the misbehaving student stand at the back of the classroom, and he stood there without moving a muscle for an hour.）
3. 尽管周围很吵，他还是坐在那里一动不动地看书。
   （Despite the noise around him, he sat there still, reading a book.）
4. 面对歹徒的威胁，她吓得一动不动，不敢出声。
   （Threatened by the thug, she was too scared to move and couldn't make a sound.）
5. 这个问题已经存在很久了，但相关部门却一动不动，没有任何改进措施。
   （This problem has existed for a long time, but the relevant departments have remained inactive, taking no improvement measures.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '一动不动' is not an expression with a specific cultural background but a common idiom used widely from daily conversation to literary works.
• '一动不动' can be interpreted in various ways depending on the context. For example, it can represent not only being still but also emotions such as fear, surprise, or determination and patience.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 纹丝不动 (wén sī bú dòng): Not moving in the slightest, not even a twitch.
  • 静若处子 (jìng ruò chǔ zǐ): Extremely quiet, as still as a maiden.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 动如脱兔 (dòng rú tuō tù): To move as swiftly as an escaping rabbit.
  • 活蹦乱跳 (huó bèng luàn tiào): To be full of life and energy, very active.

6. Summary

'一动不动' is a versatile idiom used to describe not only physical stillness but also the absence of change in situations or emotions. It is important to decipher its underlying meaning according to the context. Using this idiom effectively will enrich your Chinese expressions.