TongTong
Sign in

轮流 (lún liú) — to take turns; to alternate

Definition

A verb meaning each party takes a turn doing the same thing in sequence. Compared to 交替, 轮流 is more everyday and focuses on people (轮流发言); 交替 can describe things swapping in a recurring cycle.

verb
to take turnsto alternate

Examples

  • 轮流。
    Wǒ men lún liú dǎ sǎo jiào shì.
    We take turns cleaning the classroom.
  • 轮流。
    Tā men lún liú shàng tái fā yán.
    They take turns going on stage to speak.
  • 轮流。
    Shuāng fāng lún liú jìn gōng.
    Both sides take turns attacking.

Origin

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
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún輪lún
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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Order & Arrangement

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.