換 meaning and stroke order
To change; to exchange, to swap, to trade
How to write 換, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 換
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to exchange
- to change (clothes etc)
- to substitute
- to switch
- to convert (currency)
How 換 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 奐 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 換
換 is a hand 扌 next to 奐 (huàn), which gives the sound. Picture your hand passing something across to swap it for something else.
換 is the traditional form of 换 and is used for swapping objects, changing clothes, switching trains, or converting money. It often takes a direct object right after it. Example: 我想換衣服。(Wǒ xiǎng huàn yīfu.) I want to change my clothes.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 換 (huàn) with 喚 (huàn, to call out), which has the same sound and the same right side but uses the mouth radical 口 instead of the hand 扌. Remember that swapping is done by hand.
Common words with 換
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 交換 | jiāohuàn | to exchange; to swap | HSK 4 |
| 轉換 | zhuǎnhuàn | to change; to switch | HSK 5 |
| 更換 | gēnghuàn | to replace (a worn-out tire etc); to change (one's address etc) | HSK 5 |
| 變換 | biànhuàn | to transform; to convert | HSK 6 |
| 換成 | huànchéng | to exchange (sth) for (sth else); to replace with | HSK 7-9 |
| 替換 | tìhuàn | to exchange; to replace; to substitute for; to switch | HSK 7-9 |
| 換取 | huànqǔ | to obtain (sth) in exchange; to exchange (sth) for (sth else) | HSK 7-9 |
| 兌換 | duìhuàn | to convert; to exchange | HSK 7-9 |
| 換言之 | huànyánzhī | in other words | HSK 7-9 |
| 換位 | huànwèi | to swap places; (logic) conversion | HSK 7-9 |
| 撤換 | chèhuàn | to dismiss and replace (sb); to replace (sb or sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 輪換 | lúnhuàn | to rotate; to take turns | HSK 7-9 |
| 換句話說 | huànjùhuàshuō | in other words | |
| 切換 | qiēhuàn | to switch over; to switch modes or data streams |
Questions about 換
How many strokes are in 換?
換 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 換 mean?
換 (huàn) means to change; to exchange, to swap, to trade. A common word with it is 交换 (jiāohuàn), meaning "to exchange; to swap".
How do you pronounce 換?
換 is pronounced huàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 換?
The radical of 換 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 換 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 換?
換 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 换, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 換 and 變 when both mean change?
換 (huàn) means replacing one thing with another, like 換錢 (huàn qián) to exchange money. 變 (biàn) means something itself turns different, like 天氣變了 (tiānqì biàn le), the weather changed.
How do I say to transfer trains or buses with 換?
Use 換車 (huàn chē) or 換乘 (huànchéng). For example, 在這站換車 (zài zhè zhàn huàn chē) means change trains at this station.