Meaning of 换
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to exchange
- to change (clothes etc)
- to substitute
- to switch
- to convert (currency)
How to use 换
换 is an everyday verb for swapping one thing for another, changing clothes, switching lines on the subway, or exchanging money. It often takes a direct object, as in 换衣服 (huàn yīfu, change clothes) or 换钱 (huàn qián, exchange money). Example: 我想把美元换成人民币。(Wǒ xiǎng bǎ měiyuán huànchéng rénmínbì.) I want to change US dollars into RMB.
On the left is the hand radical 扌, and on the right is 奂 (huàn), which gives the sound. Picture your hand reaching out to swap one thing for another, and the right side tells you to say huàn.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 换 with 唤 (huàn, to call out) and 焕 (huàn, shining), which share the same right side and sound. Only 换 has the hand radical 扌, because you swap things with your hand. Another trap is using 换 for a change in a person or situation. For that, use 变 (biàn), as in 他变了 (tā biàn le, he has changed).
换 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.
换 huàn · to exchange · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 换.
| 交换 | jiāohuàn | to exchange; to swap |
| 转换 | zhuǎnhuàn | to change; to switch |
| 更换 | gēnghuàn | to replace (a worn-out tire etc); to change (one's address etc) |
| 变换 | biànhuàn | to transform; to convert |
| 换成 | huànchéng | to exchange (sth) for (sth else); to replace with |
| 替换 | tìhuàn | to exchange; to replace; to substitute for; to switch |
| 换取 | huànqǔ | to obtain (sth) in exchange; to exchange (sth) for (sth else) |
| 兑换 | duìhuàn | to convert; to exchange |
| 换言之 | huànyánzhī | in other words |
| 换位 | huànwèi | to swap places; (logic) conversion |
| 撤换 | chèhuàn | to dismiss and replace (sb); to replace (sb or sth) |
| 轮换 | lúnhuàn | to rotate; to take turns |
Questions about 换
What does 换 mean?
换 (huàn) means "to exchange; to change (clothes etc)" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 换?
换 is made of 1 character: 换 (10 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 换 an HSK word?
Yes. 换 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 换 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 换 is written 換.
What is the difference between 换 and 变?
换 means replacing one thing with a different thing, like 换工作 (huàn gōngzuò, change jobs). 变 means the same thing becomes different, like 天气变冷了 (tiānqì biàn lěng le, the weather turned cold).
How do I say 'transfer' on the subway or bus with 换?
Use 换乘 (huànchéng) or simply 换, as in 在这儿换二号线 (zài zhèr huàn èr hào xiàn, transfer to Line 2 here). In casual speech 换车 (huàn chē) also means to change buses or trains.