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转折点 (zhuǎn zhé diǎn) — turning point

Definition

A turning point where a situation changes direction, often toward a new phase (can be positive or negative). 契机 emphasizes a favorable opportunity; 转机 is specifically a turn for the better or a recovery.

noun
turning point

Examples

  • 转折点。
    Zhè cì tán pàn shì liǎng guó guān xì de zhuǎn zhé diǎn.
    This negotiation is a turning point in the relationship between the two countries.
  • 转折点。
    Nà ge jué dìng chéng wéi tā rén shēng de zhòng yào zhuǎn zhé diǎn.
    That decision became an important turning point in his life.
  • 2020转折点。
    2020 Nián duì quán qiú jīng jì lái shuō shì yí gè zhuǎn zhé diǎn.
    2020 was a turning point for the global economy.

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.

转折turn
转zhuǎnturn折zhébend
联合Coordinate
点diǎnpoint

转折 means a turn and 点 means a point; together it is the point where direction shifts.

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 →

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

  • 屮𣏄𣏄a tree {{zh-m|*木}} cut in half
  • 斤斤jīnaxe

The shape originally showed an axe (斤) cutting a tree in half; in 折 the left part is now written as a hand.

Open 折 →

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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