急转弯 (jí zhuǎn wān) — to take a sudden turn (literal, e.g., a car or road); to make a radical change (figurative, e.g., policy, opinion)
Definition
Verbal phrase meaning to make a sharp, sudden change — used literally for roads/vehicles and figuratively for policies or opinions taking an abrupt new direction. Usually a separable structure with a degree adverb like 突然.
verb
to take a sudden turn (literal, e.g., a car or road)to make a radical change (figurative, e.g., policy, opinion)
Examples
- 急转弯，。Qián miàn de lù tū rán jí zhuǎn wān le, zhù yì jiǎn sù.The road ahead suddenly took a sharp turn; slow down.
- 急转弯，。Gōng sī de zhèng cè tū rán jí zhuǎn wān, yuán gōng dōu hěn jīng yà.The company's policy suddenly made a radical change; the employees were all surprised.
- 急转弯。Zhè tiáo shān lù yào jí zhuǎn wān hǎo jǐ cì cái néng dào shān dǐng.This mountain road requires several sharp turns to reach the summit.
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.
急转弯 puts 急 meaning sudden before 转弯 meaning turn a curve to describe a sudden change of direction.
Appears in
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