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 turn"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to turn", including 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn), 折 (zhé / shé), 纽 (niǔ), 扭 (niǔ), 拐 (guǎi). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to turn" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn), 折 (zhé / shé), 纽 (niǔ), 扭 (niǔ), 拐 (guǎi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zhuǎn, zhuàn, zhé, shé, niǔ, guǎi — 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
- 折 zhé / shébroken (as of rope; stick); tenth (in price); to break; to fold; to turnUseful words: 打折, 折扣
- 纽 niǔto turn; to wrench; buttonUseful words: 纽带, 纽扣
- 扭 niǔto turn; to twist; to grab; to wringUseful words: 扭转, 别扭
- 拐 guǎikidnap; to turnUseful words: 拐弯, 拐杖
Common words for these 5 "to turn" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 转 (zhuǎn / zhuàn) — so "to turn" 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)打折dǎ zhéto give a discount折扣zhé kòudiscount折磨zhé móto torment; to torture纽带niǔ dàitie; link; bond纽扣niǔ kòubutton枢纽shū niǔhub (e.g. of traffic network); hinge; pivot; fulcrum扭转niǔ zhuǎnto reverse; to turn around (an undesirable situation); (mechanics) torsion
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 5 ways to say "to turn".
折 zhé / shé — broken (as of rope; stick); tenth (in price); to break; to fold; to turn
他把信纸对折了一下，放进信封。Tā bǎ xìn zhǐ duì zhé le yí xià, fàng jìn xìn fēng.He folded the letter paper and put it into the envelope.
Common words: 打折 (dǎ zhé)、折扣 (zhé kòu)、折磨 (zhé mó)
纽 niǔ — to turn; to wrench; button
上海是中国重要的交通枢纽。Shàng hǎi shì Zhōng guó zhòng yào de jiāo tōng shū niǔ.Shanghai is an important transportation hub in China.
Common words: 纽带 (niǔ dài)、纽扣 (niǔ kòu)、枢纽 (shū niǔ)
扭 niǔ — to turn; to twist; to grab; to wring
他不小心扭伤了脚踝。Tā bù xiǎo xīn niǔ shāng le jiǎo huái.He accidentally sprained his ankle.
Common words: 扭转 (niǔ zhuǎn)、别扭 (biè niu)、扭曲 (niǔ qū)
拐 guǎi — kidnap; to turn
到了路口，向右一拐就到了。Dào le lù kǒu, xiàng yòu yì guǎi jiù dào le.At the intersection, turn right and you will be there.
Common words: 拐弯 (guǎi wān)、拐杖 (guǎi zhàng)、大拐 (dà guǎi)
All 5 characters
Open 转、折、纽 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.