换

換

huàn

奂 + 扌

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

huàn (verb) to exchange; to trade; to substitute; to switch

huàn (verb) to convert (currency)

Etymology

Simplified form of 換. Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 奐 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 奂

About

The character 换 is the simplified form of its traditional counterpart 換, and it functions as a phono-semantic compound. The left-side component 扌, a variant of 手 (shǒu, hand), signals that the meaning involves a manual action. The right-side component 奂 (huàn), derived from the traditional 奐, provides the pronunciation and carries the associated meanings of brilliance or abundance. With the hand radical anchoring the semantic category, the core meaning of 换 is the physical exchange of one object for another. From this concrete act, the character's usage extends to any type of exchange or transformation, such as swapping money, replacing broken parts, trading places, changing clothes, or turning an abstract idea into a completely different state.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我需要换鞋子。

Wǒ xūyào huàn xiézi.

I need to change shoes.

请帮我换零钱。

Qǐng bāng wǒ huàn língqián.

Please help me exchange for small change.

我们交换了礼物。

Wǒmen jiāohuànle lǐwù.

We exchanged gifts.

他经常换工作。

Tā jīngcháng huàn gōngzuò.

He often changes jobs.

你可以换一个频道吗？

Nǐ kěyǐ huàn yīgè píndào ma?

Can you change the channel?

如果你不满意，可以换另一个产品。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù mǎnyì, kěyǐ huàn lìng yīgè chǎnpǐn.

If you are not satisfied, you can exchange for another product.

为了健康，他决定换一种生活方式。

Wèile jiànkāng, tā juédìng huàn yī zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì.

For health, he decided to change his lifestyle.

由于天气突变，我们不得不临时更换比赛场地。

Yóuyú tiānqì tūbiàn, wǒmen bùdé bù línshí gēnghuàn bǐsài chǎngdì.

Due to sudden weather changes, we had to temporarily change the competition venue.

Related Characters

Component: 奂

Component: 扌

换