Usage note
“行动”指为了达到某个目标而做的事情。
“Xíng dòng” zhǐ wèile dádào mǒu gè mùbiāo ér zuò de shìqíng.
“Action” refers to things done to achieve a certain goal.
Context note
我们常说“采取行动”或“行动起来”，表示开始做事情。
Wǒmen cháng shuō “cǎiqǔ xíngdòng” huò “xíngdòng qǐlái”, biǎoshì kāishǐ zuò shìqíng.
We often say “take action” or “get into action,” meaning to start doing something.
5 examples
保护环境，我们要立刻行动。
bǎo hù huán jìng， wǒ men yào lì kè xíng dòng。
To protect the environment, we must act immediately.
老师号召大家行动起来打扫教室。
lǎo shī hào zhào dà jiā xíng dòng qǐ lái dǎ sǎo jiào shì。
The teacher called on everyone to take action and clean the classroom.
他的行动帮助了迷路的小狗。
tā de xíng dòng bāng zhù le mí lù de xiǎo gǒu。
His action helped the lost puppy.
计划再好，没有行动也没用。
jì huà zài hǎo， méi yǒu xíng dòng yě méi yòng。
No matter how good the plan is, it's useless without action.
大家一起行动，把垃圾捡干净。
dà jiā yì qǐ xíng dòng， bǎ lā jī jiǎn gān jìng。
Everyone takes action together to pick up the trash.
5 mini stories
小红看到地上有纸，马上行动捡起来。
xiǎo hóng kàn dào dì shàng yǒu zhǐ， mǎ shàng xíng dòng jiǎn qǐ lái。
Xiao Hong saw paper on the ground and immediately took action to pick it up.
小刚想帮助同学，他行动去借橡皮。
xiǎo gāng xiǎng bāng zhù tóng xué， tā xíng dòng qù jiè xiàng pí。
Xiao Gang wanted to help his classmate, so he took action to borrow an eraser.
大家行动很快，把玩具收拾好了。
dà jiā xíng dòng hěn kuài， bǎ wán jù shōu shí hǎo le。
Everyone acted quickly and put away the toys.
小丽用行动证明自己很勇敢。
xiǎo lì yòng xíng dòng zhèng míng zì jǐ hěn yǒng gǎn。
Xiao Li proved she was brave through her actions.
行动是最好的老师，多做就会进步。
xíng dòng shì zuì hǎo de lǎo shī， duō zuò jiù huì jìn bù。
Action is the best teacher; doing more leads to progress.
Mini dialogue
开始行动
A
我们什么时候开始行动？
Wǒmen shénme shíhou kāishǐ xíngdòng?
When do we start the action?
B
现在就开始吧！
Xiànzài jiù kāishǐ ba!
Let's start now!
帮助他人
A
他用行动帮助了很多人。
Tā yòng xíngdòng bāngzhù le hěn duō rén.
He helped many people through his actions.
B
我们也要向他学习。
Wǒmen yě yào xiàng tā xuéxí.
We should also learn from him.
Related words and contrasts
similar
行为
xíng wéi
behavior
行动 is action, 行为 is behavior or conduct
related
活动
huó dòng
activity
活动 is an activity or event
opposite
静止
jìng zhǐ
stillness
静止 means motionless, opposite of action