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运转 (yùn zhuǎn) — to operate, to run (machinery, system, organization); to revolve, to rotate, to turn (around an axis)

Definition

运转 covers both senses: machinery or organizations running smoothly, and physical rotation around an axis — broader than 旋转 (formal, only spinning).

verb
to operateto run (machinery, system, organization)to revolveto rotateto turn (around an axis)

Examples

  • 运转。
    Gōng sī yùn zhuǎn dé hěn shùn lì.
    The company operates very smoothly.
  • 运转。
    Yuè liang wéi rào dì qiú yùn zhuǎn.
    The moon revolves around the Earth.
  • 运转。
    Zhè tái jī qì yùn zhuǎn le yì zhěng tiān.
    This machine has been running all day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

运yùnoperate
转zhuǎnturn

“运” (operate) and “转” (turn) combine to mean run or turn around.

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 運; 运 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòmotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn運yùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 運 combines 辵, meaning motion, with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 运 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 运 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Technology & Engineering

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