dòngjī: 动机 - Motive, Motivation, Intention

• Keywords: 动机, dongji, Chinese for motive, motivation in Chinese, criminal motive, what is your motive in Chinese, dongji meaning, Chinese word for intention, 动, 机.
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese word 动机 (dòngjī), which translates to 'motive' or 'intention'. This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, from a criminal's motive to personal motivation and business strategy. Understand the cultural nuances behind dòngjī, how it differs from the English 'motivation', and how to use it correctly in modern Chinese conversation to grasp the deeper “why” behind people's actions.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dòngjī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The underlying reason or driving force that compels a person to perform a particular action.
• In a Nutshell: 动机 (dòngjī) is the “why” behind an action. Think of it not as a general feeling of being motivated, but as the specific, often hidden, reason for doing something. It's the internal logic or trigger that sets a plan in motion. While it can be neutral, it often carries a serious or even suspicious tone, making it a powerful word for analysis and questioning.

• 动 (dòng): To move, to act, action, motion. This character represents the “action” part of the equation.
• 机 (jī): Mechanism, machine, pivot, opportunity, or trigger. This character represents the internal “mechanism” or “triggering point” for the action.
• When combined, 动机 (dòngjī) literally means the “action mechanism” or “moving trigger”—a vivid image for the internal reason that sparks an external action.

In Western cultures, “motive” is a key concept in psychology and law, focusing on an individual's internal state. While 动机 (dòngjī) shares this meaning, its cultural weight in China is subtly different. Chinese culture is often described as a “high-context” culture, where understanding unspoken cues, relationships (关系 guānxi), and social harmony is paramount. In this environment, discerning someone's 动机 is a critical social skill. It's less about a purely psychological analysis and more about understanding how a person's actions fit into a larger social web. 动机 (dòngjī) vs. Western “Motivation”: A key difference is with the common English word “motivation.” “Motivation” in English is overwhelmingly positive (e.g., “I need some motivation to go to the gym”). 动机 (dòngjī), however, is closer to the more analytical and neutral/negative “motive.” Asking someone directly, “你的动机是什么？” (Nǐ de dòngjī shì shénme? - “What is your motive?”), sounds just as accusatory in Chinese as it does in English. It implies you suspect an ulterior, perhaps negative, reason for their actions. For general, positive “motivation,” words like 动力 (dònglì) (driving force) or 积极性 (jījíxìng) (enthusiasm/initiative) are more appropriate.

动机 (dòngjī) is used in various contexts, ranging from formal to analytical.

• Formal & Legal Contexts: This is the most common and clear-cut usage. Police, lawyers, and news reports will frequently discuss the `犯罪动机 (fànzuì dòngjī)` or “criminal motive.” In this context, it is neutral and technical.
• Business and Strategy: In negotiations or competitive analysis, one might try to figure out the other party's 动机. It's used to mean their underlying strategic reason for a particular move. It's analytical and detached.
• Questioning Intentions: In personal conversations, discussing someone's 动机 often signals suspicion. It's frequently used with adjectives like `不纯 (bù chún)` meaning “impure” or `可疑 (kěyí)` meaning “suspicious.” You are more likely to talk about someone's motive than to ask them about it directly.
• Positive/Neutral Motivation: While less common, 动机 can be used in a neutral or positive way, especially in writing or formal speech, to describe the reason for a positive action. For example, discussing the `学习的动机 (xuéxí de dòngjī)` (motivation for studying) is perfectly acceptable in an academic context.

• Example 1:
  • 警方还在调查凶手的作案动机。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng hái zài diàochá xiōngshǒu de zuò'àn dòngjī.
  • English: The police are still investigating the murderer's motive for the crime.
  • Analysis: A classic, formal use of 动机 in a legal/criminal context. It is neutral and technical here.
• Example 2:
  • 我不明白他这么做的动机是什么。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù míngbái tā zhème zuò de dòngjī shì shénme.
  • English: I don't understand what his motive is for doing this.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses confusion and suspicion. The speaker is questioning the underlying reason for someone's unexpected behavior.
• Example 3:
  • 他帮助你，肯定有别的动机，你最好小心一点。
  • Pinyin: Tā bāngzhù nǐ, kěndìng yǒu bié de dòngjī, nǐ zuìhǎo xiǎoxīn yīdiǎn.
  • English: He definitely has another motive for helping you, you'd better be careful.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of warning someone about a suspected ulterior motive. The implication is strongly negative.
• Example 4:
  • 他的动机不纯，只是想利用你。
  • Pinyin: Tā de dòngjī bù chún, zhǐshì xiǎng lìyòng nǐ.
  • English: His motives are impure; he just wants to use you.
  • Analysis: `动机不纯 (dòngjī bù chún)` is a very common collocation that means “to have impure/ulterior motives.”
• Example 5:
  • 赚钱是我工作的最主要动机。
  • Pinyin: Zhuànqián shì wǒ gōngzuò de zuì zhǔyào dòngjī.
  • English: Making money is my main motivation for working.
  • Analysis: Here, 动机 is used in a neutral, factual way to state the primary reason for an action. It's a self-analysis, so it doesn't sound suspicious.
• Example 6:
  • 激励员工需要了解他们真正的动机。
  • Pinyin: Jīlì yuángōng xūyào liǎojiě tāmen zhēnzhèng de dòngjī.
  • English: To motivate employees, you need to understand their real motivations.
  • Analysis: A business context. 动机 here refers to the underlying drivers of employee behavior (e.g., money, recognition, career growth).
• Example 7:
  • 有些人做慈善的动机是为了获得名声。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén zuò císhàn de dòngjī shì wèile huòdé míngshēng.
  • English: Some people's motive for doing charity is to gain fame.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 动机 to make a cynical or analytical observation about human behavior.
• Example 8:
  • 孩子学习的动机可能是为了让父母高兴。
  • Pinyin: Háizi xuéxí de dòngjī kěnéng shì wèile ràng fùmǔ gāoxìng.
  • English: A child's motivation for studying might be to make their parents happy.
  • Analysis: A neutral, psychological use of the term. It's explaining the reason behind a behavior without judgment.
• Example 9:
  • 这个角色的动机很复杂，既有爱也有恨。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juésè de dòngjī hěn fùzá, jì yǒu ài yě yǒu hèn.
  • English: This character's motives are very complex, involving both love and hate.
  • Analysis: Used in literary or film analysis to describe a character's internal drivers.
• Example 10:
  • 如果没有强烈的动机，就很难坚持下去。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu qiángliè de dòngjī, jiù hěn nán jiānchí xiàqù.
  • English: If you don't have a strong motive, it's very difficult to persevere.
  • Analysis: This is one of the more general, positive uses of 动机, similar to “strong reason” or “drive.” It emphasizes the need for a clear purpose.

• `动机 (dòngjī)` vs. `动力 (dònglì)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • `动机 (dòngjī)` (Motive/Reason): The specific “why” for a particular action. It answers the question, “For what reason did you do X?”
    • Correct: 他辞职的动机是为了创业。 (Tā cízhí de dòngjī shì wèile chuàngyè.) - His motive for resigning was to start a business.
  • `动力 (dònglì)` (Driving Force/Impetus): The general energy or force that pushes you forward. It answers the question, “What gives you the energy to keep going?”
    • Correct: 家人的支持是我最大的动力。 (Jiārén de zhīchí shì wǒ zuìdà de dònglì.) - My family's support is my biggest driving force.
    • Incorrect: 我今天没有工作的动机。 (Incorrect usage)
    • Correct: 我今天没有工作的动力。 (Wǒ jīntiān méiyǒu gōngzuò de dònglì.) - I don't have the motivation/drive to work today.
• False Friend: “Motivation”
  • Do not use 动机 (dòngjī) every time you would say “motivation” in English. English “motivation” is usually positive and general. If you want to say “He's a very motivated student,” you would say 他是一个学习很积极的学生 (Tā shì yīgè xuéxí hěn jījí de xuéshēng), not that he has a lot of 动机.
• Confrontational Tone
  • Be careful when asking someone about their 动机 directly. It can sound like you are suspicious of them. A softer way to ask about someone's reasons might be to use `为什么 (wèishéme)` or inquire about their `想法 (xiǎngfǎ)` (idea/way of thinking) or `目的 (mùdì)` (goal).

• 动力 (dònglì) - The direct counterpart: driving force, impetus, power. It's the general “push,” while 动机 is the specific “pull” or reason.
• 目的 (mùdì) - Goal, purpose, objective. 目的 is the target you want to hit; 动机 is the reason you're aiming at it in the first place.
• 原因 (yuányīn) - Reason, cause. A much more general and neutral term. It can refer to the cause of any event, not just the internal driver of a person's actions.
• 意图 (yìtú) - Intention, intent. Very close to 动机, but can be more focused on the planned outcome. Often used in legal contexts (e.g., `故意伤害意图` - intent to cause bodily harm).
• 出发点 (chūfādiǎn) - Starting point; initial intention. Often used to express good intentions, e.g., “My starting point was good” (`我的出发点是好的`). It's a much softer and more positive way to talk about one's reasons than 动机.
• 用心 (yòngxīn) - Can mean “motive” or “intention,” especially in the negative phrase `别有用心 (bié yǒu yòngxīn)`, meaning “to have an ulterior motive.”
• 动机不纯 (dòngjī bù chún) - A common set phrase meaning “to have impure motives.”
• 犯罪动机 (fànzuì dòngjī) - The standard set phrase for “criminal motive.”