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兑换 (duì huàn) — to exchange, to convert (currency, points, vouchers, etc.)

Definition

兑换 is used specifically for converting redeemable items — currency, points, vouchers, checks. Compared to 换 (general exchange/swap) and 转换 (transforming states/formats), 兑换 implies a formal, transactional cash-in of value.

verb
to exchangeto convert (currency, points, vouchers, etc.)

Examples

  • 兑换。
    Wǒ xiǎng bǎ měi yuán duì huàn chéng rén mín bì.
    I want to exchange US dollars into RMB.
  • 兑换？
    Jī fēn kě yǐ duì huàn lǐ pǐn ma?
    Can points be exchanged for gifts?
  • 兑换。
    Qǐng dào guì tái duì huàn wài bì.
    Please go to the counter to exchange foreign currency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

兑duìexchange
换huànchange

兑 and 换 both mean to exchange or change, giving the sense of converting one thing into another.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兌; 兑 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兌 combines 人, 口, and 八, showing a person's mouth with marks above, read as speech or as a smiling mouth. The simplified 兑 is not the form described here.

Open 兑 →

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 換; 换 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
奐
奐huàn換huàn
Same sound today

For the traditional form 換, 手 is the hand part and 奐 gives the sound; this note is about 換, not the simplified 换.

Open 换 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Money & Currency

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