▎動不動就, dòngbúdòng jiù, whenever one pleases to do something impetuously

 

Function The idiom 動不動 refers to doing something or getting into some state quite often and without good reason, ever so often. This pattern is used as a criticism.

1 現在年輕人動不動就換工作，怎麼能成功？

Xiànzài niánqīng rén dòngbúdòng jiù huàn gōngzuò, zěnme néng chénggōng?

Young people today change jobs at the drop of a hat. How are they going to succeed?

2 這是你自己的問題，不要動不動就怪別人。

Zhè shì nǐ zìjǐ de wèntí, bú yào dòngbúdòng jiù guài biérén.

This is your problem. Don’t go blaming others at the drop of a hat.

3 你別動不動就打擾別人工作，等他們有空的時候再去請教他們。

Nǐ bié dòngbúdòng jiù dǎrǎo biérén gōngzuò, děng tāmen yǒu kòng de shíhòu zài qù qǐngjiào tāmen.

Don’t interrupt others when they’re working whenever you feel like it. Wait until they have time, and then ask them your questions.

4 你很健康，不要動不動就去醫院檢查身體。

Nǐ hěn jiànkāng, bú yào dòngbúdòng jiù qù yīyuàn jiǎnchá shēntǐ.

You’re healthy, don’t go to the hospital for checkups at the drop of a hat.

5 最近高鐵動不動就出問題，讓搭高鐵的人很不放心。

Zuìjìn gāotiě dòngbúdòng jiù chū wèntí, ràng dā gāotiě de rén hěn bú fàngxīn.

The HSR has been having all kinds of problems lately, causing anxiety among people who take it.