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转换 (zhuǎn huàn) — to change, to convert, to transform (from one state to another)

Definition

转换 emphasizes a complete change from one state or form into another (file formats, energy, roles). Broader and more transformative than 换 (a simple swap) or 替换 (substituting one item for another).

verb
to changeto convertto transform (from one state to another)

Examples

  • 转换PDF。
    Bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn zhuǎn huàn chéng PDF gé shì.
    Convert this file to PDF format.
  • 转换。
    Tā qù nián cóng gōng chéng shī zhuǎn huàn chéng le jiào shī.
    Last year he switched from engineer to teacher.
  • 转换。
    Tài yáng néng kě yǐ zhuǎn huàn chéng diàn néng.
    Solar energy can be converted into electrical energy.

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zhuǎnturn/change
换huànexchange/change

转 and 换 both express turning or exchanging, together meaning to change from one state to another.

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.

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 6Change & Process

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