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转移 (zhuǎn yí) — to transfer, to shift (position, location, or resources); to shift (attention, focus, or subject); (medicine) to metastasize

Definition

转移 covers moving things, attention, or responsibility — broader than 搬 (physical relocation) and 移交 (formal hand-over of duties). Also used medically for cancer spreading to other organs.

verb
to transferto shift (position, location, or resources)to shift (attention, focus, or subject)(medicine) to metastasize

Examples

  • 转移。
    Gōng sī jué dìng bǎ zǒng bù zhuǎn yí dào shàng hǎi.
    The company decided to relocate its headquarters to Shanghai.
  • 转移。
    Tā shì tú zhuǎn yí dà jiā de zhù yì lì.
    He tried to divert everyone's attention.
  • 转移。
    Yī shēng dān xīn ái xì bāo huì zhuǎn yí dào qí tā qì guān.
    The doctor is worried that the cancer cells will metastasize to other organs.

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zhuǎnshift
移yímove

转 and 移 both express shifting or moving, together meaning to transfer or relocate.

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
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
多
多duō移
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

移 pairs 禾, a grain plant, with 多, which gives the sound.

Open 移 →
Appears in
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