"Motive" • Chinese-English Dictionary
| 动机 | dòng jī | motive / motivation |   |
| 用心 | yòng xīn | motive / intention / to be diligent or attentive / careful | |
| 出发点 | chū fā diǎn | starting point / (fig.) basis / motive | |
| 起见 | qǐ jiàn | motive / purpose / (sth) being the motive or purpose | |
| 心路 | xīn lù | scheme / artifice / tolerance / intention / motive / train of thought / brains / wit / ideas | |
| 心气 | xīn qì | intention / motive / state of mind / ambition / aspiration / heart 氣|气[qi4] (TCM) | |
| 动力 | dòng lì | motive power / (fig.) motivation / impetus | |
| 原动力 | yuán dòng lì | motive force / prime mover / first cause / agent | |
| 别有用心 | bié yǒu yòng xīn | to have an ulterior motive (idiom) | |
| 隐情 | yǐn qíng | sth one wishes to keep secret / ulterior motive / a subject best avoided | |
| 心迹 | xīn jì | true motive / true feelings | |
| 牵引力 | qiān yǐn lì | motive force / traction | |
| 无事不登三宝殿 | wú shì bù dēng sān bǎo diàn | lit. one doesn't visit a temple without a cause (idiom) / fig. to visit sb with an ulterior motive (esp. to ask for sth) | |
| 醉翁之意不在酒 | zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ | wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom) / a drinker not really interested in alcohol / having an ulterior motive / to have other things in mind / with an ax to grind / accomplishing something besides what one set out to do | |
| 鬼胎 | guǐ tāi | sinister design / ulterior motive | |
| 另有企图 | lìng yǒu qǐ tú | (idiom) to have an ulterior motive | |
| 拖动力 | tuō dòng lì | motive force / traction | |
| 发动力 | fā dòng lì | motive power | |
| 不当动机 | improper motive | | |
| 居心何在 | jū xīn hé zài | What's (he) up to? / What's the motive behind all this? | |
| 诛心 | zhū xīn | to criticize sb for what one believes to be their ulterior motive | |
