转

• Pinyin: zhuǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 转 = 车 (vehicle) + 专 (specialise, phonetic component), suggesting turning like a wheel

Meaning

To turn; to change direction; to transfer; to shift. Indicates a change in direction, position, or state.

A highly versatile verb with two pronunciations: zhuǎn (turn, change direction, transfer) and zhuàn (rotate, spin). In the zhuǎn reading, it appears in many compound words: 转变 (transform), 转告 (relay a message), 转学 (transfer schools). Used for physical turning, changing topics, and transferring things.

Examples

1. 前面路口左转就到了。 Turn left at the intersection ahead and you'll be there.
2. 请帮我把这个消息转给他。 Please pass this message on to him for me.
3. 天气突然转冷了。 The weather suddenly turned cold.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, everyday, communication

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 到了红绿灯右转。(Turn right at the traffic light.)
• 请把这封信转给张老师。(Please pass this letter on to Teacher Zhang.)

Don't Say

• 我转了一个新想法。(Don't use 转 alone to mean 'came up with' — 转 implies changing or passing along something, not creating; use 有了 or 想到了 for new ideas)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 车 (vehicle radical) suggests wheels and rotation, 专 (zhuān) is the phonetic component.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal