转

轉

zhuǎi, zhuǎn, zhuàn

专 + 车

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

zhuǎn (verb) to turn; to change direction; to transfer

zhuàn (verb) revolve; rotate; to circle; to walk about

Etymology

Simplified form of 轉. Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound.

Semantic: 车 Phonetic: 专

About

转 is the simplified form of 轉, a phono-semantic compound where 车 (vehicle, wheel) supplies the meaning and 专 (derived from 專) the sound. Its earliest sense was the turning of a wheel. From there, it expanded to any kind of shift, transfer, or change in direction, such as transferring money or changing one's mind, always retaining the basic idea of turning or repositioning.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

车子转弯了。

Chēzi zhuǎnwān le.

The car turned.

他转身离开了。

Tā zhuǎnshēn líkāi le.

He turned around and left.

火车转轨了。

Huǒchē zhuǎnguǐ le.

The train switched tracks.

她转学去上海。

Tā zhuǎnxué qù Shànghǎi.

She transferred schools to Shanghai.

请转告他这个消息。

Qǐng zhuǎngào tā zhège xiāoxi.

Please pass this news to him.

他的态度转变了。

Tā de tàidu zhuǎnbiàn le.

His attitude changed.

公司正在转型中。

Gōngsī zhèngzài zhuǎnxíng zhōng.

The company is in the process of transforming.

这个项目需要转换思路。

Zhège xiàngmù xūyào zhuǎnhuàn sīlù.

This project requires a shift in thinking.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 专

Component: 车

转