转 zhuǎn / zhuàn — to convey; to forward (mail); to transfer; to turn; to shift; to revolve
天气慢慢转暖了。Tiān qì màn màn zhuǎn nuǎn le.The weather is gradually turning warmer.
Common words: 转变 (zhuǎn biàn)、转移 (zhuǎn yí)、转身 (zhuǎn shēn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to shift"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to shift", including 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn), 移 (yí), 迁 (qiān), 挪 (nuó). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to shift" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn), 移 (yí), 迁 (qiān), 挪 (nuó) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhuǎn, zhuàn, yí, qiān, nuó — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 转 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 转 zhuǎn / zhuànto convey; to forward (mail); to transfer; to turn; to shift; to revolveUseful words: 转变, 转移
- 移 yíto move; to shift; to change; to alter; to removeUseful words: 移动, 转移
- 迁 qiānto move; to shiftUseful words: 拆迁, 迁徙
- 挪 nuóto shift; to moveUseful words: 挪用, 挪动
Common words for these 4 "to shift" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn) — so "to shift" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
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)移动yí dòngto move; movement; migration; mobile转移zhuǎn yíto shift; to relocate; to transfer; (fig.) to shift (attention)移民yí mínto immigrate; to migrate; emigrant; immigrant拆迁chāi qiānto demolish a building and relocate the inhabitants迁徙qiān xǐto migrate; to move变迁biàn qiānchanges; vicissitudes挪用nuó yòngto shift (funds); to (legitimately) take funds set aside for one purpose in order to use them for another; to embezzle; to misappropriate
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "to shift".
移 yí — to move; to shift; to change; to alter; to remove
请帮我把桌子往左移一点儿。Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhuō zi wǎng zuǒ yí yì diǎnr.Please help me move the table a little to the left.
Common words: 移动 (yí dòng)、转移 (zhuǎn yí)、移民 (yí mín)
迁 qiān — to move; to shift
因为工作的原因，他们一家搬迁到了北京。Yīn wèi gōng zuò de yuán yīn, tā men yì jiā bān qiān dào le Běi jīng.For work reasons, their family moved to Beijing.
Common words: 拆迁 (chāi qiān)、迁徙 (qiān xǐ)、变迁 (biàn qiān)
挪 nuó — to shift; to move
请帮我把椅子往旁边挪一挪。Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ yǐ zi wǎng páng biān nuó yi nuó.Please help me move the chair to the side a bit.
Common words: 挪用 (nuó yòng)、挪动 (nuó dòng)、挪开 (nuó kāi)
All 4 characters
Open 转、移、迁 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.