Meaning of 循环
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to cycle
- to circulate
- circle
- loop
How to use 循环
循环 describes anything that repeats in a cycle, such as blood flow, water, seasons, or a song on repeat. It works as a verb and also as a noun meaning a cycle or loop. Example: 这首歌我单曲循环了一整天。(Zhè shǒu gē wǒ dānqǔ xúnhuán le yì zhěng tiān.) I played this song on repeat all day.
循 (xún) means to follow along a path, and 环 (huán) is a ring. Picture following a path that bends into a ring, so you keep coming back to where you started.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 循 (xún) with 盾 (dùn, shield) or 质 because of the similar inner parts. Remember 循 has the 彳 "walking" side on the left, which fits the idea of following a route. Also keep both syllables in the second tone.
循环 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
循 xún · to obey · 12 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
环 huán · ring · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 循环.
| 环境 | huánjìng | environment; circumstances |
| 环保 | huánbǎo | environmental protection; environmentally friendly |
| 环节 | huánjié | (zoology) segment (of the body of a worm, centipede etc); (fig.) a part of an integrated w |
| 遵循 | zūnxún | to follow; to abide by; to comply with |
| 环球 | huánqiú | around the world; worldwide |
| 环绕 | huánrào | to surround; to circle |
| 光环 | guānghuán | ring of light; halo; (fig.) glory; splendor |
| 循序渐进 | xúnxù-jiànjìn | in sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementally |
| 连环 | liánhuán | chain of rings; (attributive) linked; successive; serial |
| 耳环 | ěrhuán | earring |
| 环顾四周 | huángùsìzhōu | to look around |
| 循规蹈矩 | xúnguīdǎojǔ | to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly; |
Questions about 循环
What does 循环 mean?
循环 (xúnhuán) means "to cycle; to circulate" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 循环?
循环 is made of 2 characters: 循 (12 strokes), 环 (8 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 循环 an HSK word?
Yes. 循环 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 循环 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 循环 is written 循環.
What does 恶性循环 mean?
恶性循环 (èxìng xúnhuán) means a vicious cycle, where one bad result causes another. The opposite is 良性循环 (liángxìng xúnhuán), a virtuous cycle.
How do you say blood circulation in Chinese?
Blood circulation is 血液循环 (xuèyè xúnhuán). You may hear people say exercise 促进血液循环 (cùjìn xuèyè xúnhuán), meaning it improves circulation.