转向 meaning in English
to change direction; fig. to change one's stance
Meaning of 转向
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to change direction
- fig. to change one's stance
- to get lost
- to lose one's way
How to use 转向
转向 is used for vehicles, people, or ships physically changing direction, and also figuratively for shifting focus, policy, or opinion. It often takes an object showing the new target: 转向 + place or topic. Example: 他把注意力转向了工作。(Tā bǎ zhùyìlì zhuǎnxiàng le gōngzuò.) He turned his attention to work.
转 (zhuǎn) means to turn and 向 (xiàng) means direction or toward, as in 方向 (fāngxiàng). Put them together and you turn toward a new direction.
Common mistake: The tone of 转 changes the meaning. 转向 (zhuǎnxiàng, third tone) means to change direction, while 转向 (zhuànxiàng, fourth tone) means to get lost, as in 晕头转向 (yūntóu zhuànxiàng) confused and disoriented.
转向 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.
转 zhuǎn · to turn · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
向 xiàng · towards · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 转向.
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction; orientation |
| 转变 | zhuǎnbiàn | to change; to transform |
| 转移 | zhuǎnyí | to shift; to relocate; to transfer; (fig.) to shift (attention); to change (the subject et |
| 转身 | zhuǎnshēn | (of a person) to turn round; to face about |
| 转告 | zhuǎngào | to pass on; to communicate |
| 转动 | zhuǎndòng | to turn sth around; to swivel |
| 转弯 | zhuǎnwān | to turn; to go around a corner |
| 向前 | xiàng qián | forward; onward |
| 一向 | yīxiàng | a period of time in the recent past; (indicating a period of time up to the present) all a |
| 向上 | xiàngshàng | upward; up |
| 转换 | zhuǎnhuàn | to change; to switch |
| 向导 | xiàngdǎo | guide |
Questions about 转向
What does 转向 mean?
转向 (zhuǎnxiàng) means "to change direction; fig. to change one's stance" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 转向?
转向 is made of 2 characters: 转 (8 strokes), 向 (6 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 转向 an HSK word?
Yes. 转向 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 转向 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 转向 is written 轉向.
What is the difference between 转向 and 转身?
转身 (zhuǎnshēn) means a person physically turns their body around. 转向 is broader and means changing direction or focus, and it can apply to cars, policies, or attention.
How do I say a car turns left with 转向?
You can say 车向左转 (chē xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn) in everyday speech. 转向 also appears in more formal or technical phrases like 转向灯 (zhuǎnxiàngdēng), meaning turn signal.