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转悠 (zhuàn you) — (of eyes, body) to roll, to move around; to wander around, to stroll; (of thoughts) to linger, to keep appearing in one's mind

Definition

Colloquial verb covering three looser senses: wandering around (like 溜达), eyes/body rolling, and thoughts that keep coming back. Lighter and more casual than 溜达 (which is only walking) or 残留 (which is residue/persistence, not movement).

verb
(of eyes, body) to rollto move aroundto wander aroundto stroll(of thoughts) to lingerto keep appearing in one's mind

Examples

  • 转悠。
    Tā xǐ huan zài shāng chǎng lǐ zhuàn you.
    He likes to wander around in the mall.
  • 转悠。
    Tā jǐn zhāng de shí hou yǎn jing huì zhuàn you.
    His eyes roll when he's nervous.
  • 转悠。
    Nà jiàn shì lǎo zài wǒ xīn lǐ zhuàn you.
    That matter keeps lingering in my mind.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

转zhuǎnrotate
悠yōuswing

转 means rotate or move around, and 悠 suggests leisurely swinging, so the meaning is wandering around.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart; mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu悠yōu
Same sound today

悠 pairs 攸, which gives the sound, with 心, meaning heart or mind.

Open 悠 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Daily Routine

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