转来转去 (zhuǎn lái zhuǎn qù) — to pace back and forth; to walk around aimlessly; to keep revolving (in mind); to think repeatedly without conclusion

Definition

A reduplicated verb meaning 'to go around and around' — physically pacing, wandering without aim, or mentally turning something over without reaching a conclusion.

verb
to pace back and forthto walk around aimlesslyto keep revolving (in mind)to think repeatedly without conclusion

Examples

  • 转来转去，。
    Tā zài fáng jiān lǐ zhuǎn lái zhuǎn qù, hǎo xiàng zài děng shén me rén.
    He was pacing back and forth in the room, as if waiting for someone.
  • 转来转去。
    Zhè ge wèn tí wǒ zhuǎn lái zhuǎn qù xiǎng le hǎo jǐ biàn hái shì bù míng bái.
    I've turned this question over in my mind many times and still don't understand it.
  • ，转来转去。
    Nà ge sī jī bù zhī dào lù, zài shí zì lù kǒu zhuǎn lái zhuǎn qù.
    That driver didn't know the way and kept driving around the intersection.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

转来turn hither
转zhuǎnturn来láihither
补充Verb + complement
转去turn thither
转zhuǎnturn去qùthither
补充Verb + complement

转 means turn, while 来 and 去 add hither and thither, painting repeated turning or pacing back and forth.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

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.

去 pairs 大, a man, with 口, a mouth or object. The evidence reads this as a man leaving a place, a man opening his mouth, or a cover over an object.

Open 去 →

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