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中转 (zhōng zhuǎn) — to transfer (transportation); to transit through an intermediate point

Definition

Refers to transferring or transiting through an intermediate point on a journey (changing planes, trains, etc.). Distinct from 转换 (changing/transforming a state or role).

verb
to transfer (transportation)to transit through an intermediate point

Examples

  • 中转。
    Cóng běi jīng fēi wǎng bā lí xū yào zài dí bài zhōng zhuǎn.
    The flight from Beijing to Paris requires a transfer in Dubai.
  • 中转。
    Zhè tàng liè chē zhōng zhuǎn sān cì cái néng dào dá zhōng diǎn zhàn.
    This train makes three transfers before reaching the terminal station.
  • 中转。
    Lǚ kè kě yǐ zài xiū xi shì děng dài zhōng zhuǎn.
    Passengers can wait for the transfer in the lounge.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

中zhōngintermediate
转zhuǎntransfer

中 means intermediate and 转 means transfer, giving a transfer through a middle point.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān轉zhuǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

Open 转 →
Appears in
Travel & Tourism

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