The invention discloses a method for changing the operation state of a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps: the mobile terminal sensing a physical state change mode of itself; and according to the physical state change mode, obtaining from a preset database a corresponding mobile terminal operation state value, and correspondingly changing the current operation state of the mobile terminal. According the invention, the operation states of mobile terminals, such as a normal communication state, a muting state, a flight state, a busy line state, a call conversion state, a short message sending state, an address list scheduling state and the like, can be changed simply by changing the physical states of such mobile terminals as a mobile phone and the like, including overturning, shaking and a shacking frequency. Besides, the response is fast, and the operation is convenient, time-saving and labor-saving.