交换

• Pinyin: jiāo huàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 = pictograph of crossed legs, meaning to intersect or hand over; 换 = 扌(hand) + 奂 (phonetic) — to change or swap

Meaning

To exchange; to swap. The act of mutually giving and receiving between two parties.

Used for exchanging physical objects, ideas, opinions, contact information, and more. Common collocations include 交换意见 (exchange opinions), 交换礼物 (exchange gifts), 交换联系方式 (exchange contact info), and 交换生 (exchange student). Implies reciprocity — both sides give and receive.

Examples

1. 我们可以交换一下联系方式吗？ Can we exchange contact information?
2. 两个国家的领导人交换了意见。 The leaders of the two countries exchanged opinions.
3. 小时候我经常和朋友交换玩具。 When I was little, I often swapped toys with friends.

Usage Guide

Context: social, business, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们交换一下座位好吗？(Shall we swap seats?)
• 会议上大家交换了很多想法。(Everyone exchanged many ideas at the meeting.)

Don't Say

• 我想交换这件衣服 (Don't use 交换 for returning a product at a store — use 换 or 退换; 交换 implies a mutual swap between people)

Origin & History

A compound of 交 (to hand over/intersect) and 换 (to change/exchange), together meaning mutual exchange.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal