Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to convey; to forward (mail); to transfer; to turn; to shift; to revolve

Chinese: 转动、转变或转交。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “zhuan” becomes a different word in each tone. 转 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 转变zhuǎn biànto change; to transform; shift; transformation
  • 转移zhuǎn yíto shift; to relocate; to transfer; (fig.) to shift (attention)
  • 转身zhuǎn shēn(of a person) to turn round; to face about; (of a widow) to remarry (archaic)
  • 转动zhuǎn dòngto turn sth around; to swivel
  • 转弯zhuǎn wānto turn; to go around a corner

Example Sentence

天气慢慢转暖了。Tiān qì màn màn zhuǎn nuǎn le.The weather is gradually turning warmer.

天气Tiān qìweather慢慢màn mànslowlyzhuǎnto turnnuǎnwarmle(completed action)

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

The cart radical 车 plus 专 (sound): wheels turning — read zhuǎn: ‘to turn, shift, change direction; to forward, relay’ (转身, 转变); read zhuàn: ‘to revolve, rotate, spin; a turn’ (旋转). Simplified from 轉.

A way to remember it

zhuǎn = to turn / change (转变); zhuàn = to revolve (旋转).