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转 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
转zhuǎito conveyHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito forward (mail)HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito transferHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito turnHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito shiftHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito revolveHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito circle aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito walk aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎiclassifier for turns: revsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎiclassifier for repeated actionsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito move, to convey; to turn, to revolve, to circle; to forward mailHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎito change directionHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎiclassifier for revolutions (per minute etc): revs, rpmHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto conveyHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto forward (mail)HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto transferHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto turnHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto shiftHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto revolveHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto circle aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto walk aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnclassifier for turns: revsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnclassifier for repeated actionsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto move, to convey; to turn, to revolve, to circle; to forward mailHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnto change directionHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuǎnclassifier for revolutions (per minute etc): revs, rpmHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto conveyHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto forward (mail)HSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto transferHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto turnHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto shiftHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto revolveHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto circle aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto walk aboutHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànclassifier for turns: revsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànclassifier for repeated actionsHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto move, to convey; to turn, to revolve, to circle; to forward mailHSK 4, v, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànto change directionHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
转zhuànclassifier for revolutions (per minute etc): revs, rpmHSK 4, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 车, rank #660, Medium
zhuǎi(zhuai3)
primary
T3
  1. 1to convey
  2. 2to forward (mail)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

转(轉)zhuǎi(zhuai3)

The character 转 (zhuǎi) primarily means 'to turn' or 'to revolve.' It is commonly used in contexts related to physical movement, such as turning a vehicle or changing direction, as well as in abstract contexts like transferring information or forwarding mail. The versatile nature of this verb covers both literal and figurative meanings.

Strokes8Radical车Frequency#660DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, turning is not just about physical movement but can also symbolize change and transformation, which is often reflected in sayings and proverbs emphasizing the cyclical nature of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a spinning top that turns around and around; the character 转 looks like a wheel in motion. The left side (the 'turning' part) reminds you of rotation, while the right side adds a sense of action, reinforcing the idea of movement and change.

Meanings of 转

zhuǎi(zhuai3)
primary
1to convey
2to forward (mail)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 转

转Simplified
轉Traditional
8Strokes
车Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#660Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 转

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Podcast: 转

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 转

Quick Contrast

转 (zhuǎi) vs 旋 (xuán): use 转 for turning or revolving in a general sense, while 旋 emphasizes a more circular or spiral motion.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 转 with similar verbs like 改 (gǎi, to change) or 走 (zǒu, to go). It's important to use 转 specifically when referring to turning or transferring. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 转 connects well with other verbs of movement like 行 (xíng, to walk) and 跑 (pǎo, to run). Students should focus on using it in combination with both physical actions and abstract concepts to enhance fluency.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to use 转 in contexts that require 改, such as saying '我转了计划' (wǒ zhuǎn le jìhuà) instead of '我改了计划' (wǒ gǎi le jìhuà) for 'I changed the plan.' Learners should practice distinguishing between turning and changing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 转

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Etymology of 转

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 轉. Phonosemantic compound. 車 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound. Originally written as 專. The 車 component was added later.

Memory Hint

cart

Semantic (meaning)车
+
Phonetic (sound)专
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 转

Simplified form of 轉. Phonosemantic compound. 車 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound. Originally written as 專. The 車 component was added later.

  1. 1The meaning half车 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half专 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycart
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 转? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 转?

Decomposition of 转

IDS Structure⿰车专
转Full Character
=
车Che1
left
专zhuan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 转?

How to say to convey in Chinese

“to convey” in Chinese is转zhuǎi

The character 转 (zhuǎi) primarily means 'to turn' or 'to revolve.' It is commonly used in contexts related to physical movement, such as turning a vehicle or changing direction, as well as in abstract contexts like transferring information or forwarding mail. The versatile nature of this verb covers both literal and figurative meanings.

When to use 转

Learners often confuse 转 with similar verbs like 改 (gǎi, to change) or 走 (zǒu, to go). It's important to use 转 specifically when referring to turning or transferring. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

转 or something close to it

转 (zhuǎi) vs 旋 (xuán): use 转 for turning or revolving in a general sense, while 旋 emphasizes a more circular or spiral motion.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to use 转 in contexts that require 改, such as saying '我转了计划' (wǒ zhuǎn le jìhuà) instead of '我改了计划' (wǒ gǎi le jìhuà) for 'I changed the plan.' Learners should practice distinguishing between turning and changing.

Write 转

转

Practice writing 转 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 转

转 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

...

这就是我转的信。

Zhè jiù shì wǒ zhuǎn de xìn.

This is the letter I forwarded.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

她把东西一放,____身就走了。

She set the things down and immediately turned and left.

Common Confusions with 转

转 and 转 both refer to 'turn', but they have different usages depending on context.

1

我转身了。 (I turned around.)

转 and 转 both refer to 'turn', but they have different usages depending on context.

💡转 (zhuān) can also mean to revolve or to circle about.

Usage Notes for 转

Use of 转 in different contextsGrammar Tip

转 can be used in various contexts, including physical turning and abstract changes.

1

我转了一个弯。

I turned a corner.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我____了一个弯。

I turned a corner.

Example Sentences for 转 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我们被骗得团团转,我可不喜欢这样。

wǒ mén bèi piàn dé tuán tuán zhuǎn, , wǒ kě bù xǐ huān zhè。

We're being jerked around, and I don't like it.
2
她转身望着我,脸上带着期待的表情。

tā zhuǎn shēn wàng zháo wǒ, , liǎn shàng dài zháo qī dài de biǎo。

She turned to me with an expectant look on her face.
3
各公司正在把工作岗位转移至生活费用较低的城镇。

gè gōng sī zhèng zài bǎ gōng zuò gǎng wèi zhuǎn yí zhì shēng huó fèi yòng jiào dī de chéng zhèn。

Companies are moving jobs to towns with a lower cost of living.
4
伴随着隆隆的低沉噪声,螺旋桨开始旋转起来。

bàn suí zháo lóng lóng de dī chén zào shēng, , luó xuán jiǎng kāi shǐ xuán zhuǎn qǐ。

With a low-pitched rumbling noise, the propeller began to rotate.
5
你的决定必须转化为具体明确的行动。

nǐ de jué dìng bì xū zhuǎn huà wéi jù tǐ míng què de háng dòng。

Your decision must be translated into specific, concrete actions.
6
你可以转行从事影视戏剧业。

nǐ kě yǐ zhuǎn háng cóng shì yǐng shì xì jù yè。

You can move up to work in films and the theatre.
7
安排一下把病历转给你的新医生的事宜。

ān pái yī xià bǎ bìng lì zhuǎn gěi nǐ de xīn yī shēng de shì yí。

Arrange for the transfer of medical records to your new doctor.
8
通货膨胀的下降是长期经济衰退中的一线转机。

tōng huò péng zhàng de xià jiàng shì cháng qī jīng jì shuāi tuì zhōng de yī xiàn zhuǎn jī。

The fall in inflation is the silver lining of the prolonged recession.
9
旋转木马的幽灵只不过是当地的迷信说法。

xuán zhuǎn mù mǎ de yōu líng zhī bù guò shì dāng dì de mí xìn shuō fǎ。

The phantom of the merry-go-round is just a local superstition.
10
他们把国外救济金非法转入了个人银行账户。

tā mén bǎ guó wài jiù jì jīn fēi fǎ zhuǎn rù le gè rén yín háng zhàng hù。

They siphon foreign aid money into their personal bank accounts.

Cultural Notes for 转

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, the concept of '转' is often associated with flexibility and adaptability, symbolizing the ability to change direction in life.

Word Family of 转

Compounds1
啭zhuan4to sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warble
Words Containing This Character20
转zhuǎito turn轉
转移zhuǎnyíto shift轉移
转发to transmit轉發
转变zhuǎnbiànto change轉變
转身zhuǎnshēnto face about轉身
旋转xuánzhuǎnto rotate旋轉
转换zhuǎnhuànto change轉換
好转hǎozhuǎnto improve好轉
转让zhuǎnràngconveyancing (property)轉讓
转向zhuǎnxiàngto change direction轉向
转化zhuǎnhuàto change轉化
运转yùnzhuǎnto work運轉
转载zhuǎnzǎito forward (a shipment)轉載
转转to stroll轉轉
转弯zhuǎnwānto turn轉彎
转动zhuàndòngto revolve轉動
转型zhuǎnxíngtransformation轉型
转告zhuǎngàoto pass on轉告
扭转niǔzhuǎnto reverse扭轉
逆转to turn back逆轉
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 啭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 转

转 (zhuǎn) emphasizes the action of turning or changing direction, often in a physical sense, while 变 (biàn) refers more broadly to changing or transforming something. For example, you might use 转 for turning a vehicle, and 变 for changing your mind.

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