轮换 (lún huàn) — to rotate, to take turns

Definition

轮换 emphasizes people or groups alternating in a recurring sequence (taking turns, rotating roles). Pairs with 轮流 in this 'take-turns' sense; 旋转 and 转 describe an object spinning on an axis.

verb
to rotateto take turns

Examples

  • 轮换
    Wǒ men xū yào lún huàn yí xià zuò wèi.
    We need to rotate seats.
  • 轮换
    Nǐ men kě yǐ lún huàn kāi chē, zhè yàng bú huì tài lèi.
    You can take turns driving so you won't get too tired.
  • 轮换
    Qiú duì jīng cháng lún huàn qiú yuán de shàng chǎng shí jiān.
    The team often rotates players' playing time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

lúntake turns
huànreplace

轮换 means to 轮 (take turns) and 换 (replace) in a repeating order.

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 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
carriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
lúnlún
Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Open 轮 →

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
shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
huànhuàn
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 →

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