Meaning of 转弯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to turn
- to go around a corner
How to use 转弯
转弯 is a verb-object phrase used for cars, bikes, and people changing direction, often with 左 (zuǒ) or 右 (yòu) in front. It can also mean changing your way of thinking, as in 脑子转不过弯来 (can't get one's head around it). Example: 前面路口右转弯。(Qiánmiàn lùkǒu yòu zhuǎnwān.) Turn right at the next intersection.
转 (zhuǎn) means to turn, and 弯 (wān) means a bend or curve. Put them together and you turn at a bend, which is exactly what you do when you go around a corner.
Common mistake: Learners often read 转 with the fourth tone zhuàn, as in 转动 (zhuàndòng, 'to rotate'). In 转弯 it is third tone, zhuǎnwān. Also, 弯 is easy to confuse with 湾 (wān, 'bay'), which has the water radical 氵.
转弯 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
弯 wān · to bend · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
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- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 转弯.
| 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 |
| 转向 | zhuǎnxiàng | to change direction; fig. to change one's stance |
| 转换 | zhuǎnhuàn | to change; to switch |
| 转化 | zhuǎnhuà | to change; to turn; to convert; (genetics) to transform |
| 转让 | zhuǎnràng | to transfer (ownership, rights etc) |
| 旋转 | xuánzhuǎn | to rotate; to revolve |
| 好转 | hǎozhuǎn | to improve; to take a turn for the better |
| 弯曲 | wānqū | to bend; to curve around |
Questions about 转弯
What does 转弯 mean?
转弯 (zhuǎnwān) means "to turn; to go around a corner".
How do you write 转弯?
转弯 is made of 2 characters: 转 (8 strokes), 弯 (9 strokes). That is 17 strokes in total.
Is 转弯 an HSK word?
Yes. 转弯 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 转弯 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 转弯 is written 轉彎.
What is the difference between 转弯 and 转身?
转弯 means changing direction while moving, usually along a road or path. 转身 (zhuǎnshēn) means a person turns their body around, for example to face someone behind them.
Can 转弯 be split into two parts?
Yes. Because it is a verb plus an object, you can put words in between, as in 转了一个弯 (zhuǎnle yí ge wān, 'made a turn') or 转不过弯来 (can't make the turn, or can't change one's thinking).