转动

• Pinyin: zhuǎn dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 转 = 车 (wheel/vehicle) + 专 (concentrated), to rotate; 动 = 重 (heavy) + 力 (strength), to move

Meaning

To rotate; to turn; to revolve. Describes circular or spinning movement of an object.

Used for physical rotation: 车轮转动 (wheels turning), 地球转动 (the earth rotating). Can also be used for shifting something that pivots. Distinct from 转身 (turning one's body) and 转弯 (turning a corner). Often used in mechanical, scientific, or descriptive contexts.

Examples

1. 风一吹，风车的叶片开始缓缓转动。 When the wind blows, the blades of the windmill begin to slowly rotate.
2. 他转动钥匙，打开了那扇锈迹斑斑的大门。 He turned the key and opened the rusty old gate.
3. 这台电机的核心部件是一个高速转动的金属转子。 The core component of this motor is a metal rotor that spins at high speed.

Usage Guide

Context: science, everyday, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 风扇开始转动，室内的温度慢慢降了下来。(The fan started rotating and the indoor temperature slowly dropped.)
• 机器出现故障，主轴无法正常转动。(The machine has broken down and the main shaft cannot rotate normally.)

Don't Say

• 把'转动'用于描述人在原地旋转整个身体 (Don't use 转动 when a person is spinning around as a whole — use 旋转 or 转圈; 转动 is more appropriate for objects or parts of the body like eyes or a joint)

Origin & History

From 转 (to rotate/turn, 车 vehicle/wheel + 专 specialised — a wheel that spins) and 动 (to move, 重 heavy + 力 strength), together meaning 'to spin and move'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal