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扭转 (niǔ zhuǎn) — to reverse, to turn around (an undesirable situation, trend, etc.); to twist, to wrench (physically)

Definition

Usually means to reverse an undesirable trend or situation (局势, 趋势). The physical sense 'to twist/wrench' is less common; for that, 扭曲 fits distortion and 扭 covers simple turning/twisting.

verb
to reverseto turn around (an undesirable situation, trend, etc.)to twistto wrench (physically)

Examples

  • 扭转。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài nǔ lì niǔ zhuǎn jīng jì xià huá de qū shì.
    The government is working hard to reverse the downward economic trend.
  • 扭转，。
    Tā yòng lì niǔ zhuǎn mén bǎ shǒu, mén zhōng yú kāi le.
    He twisted the doorknob hard, and the door finally opened.
  • 扭转。
    Zhǐ yǒu gǎi biàn cè lüè cái néng niǔ zhuǎn bú lì de jú miàn.
    Only by changing strategy can we reverse the unfavorable situation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

扭niǔtwist
转zhuǎnturn

扭 and 转 both involve turning, so the word expresses turning around or reversing a situation.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丑
丑chǒu扭niǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

扭 has 手 (hand) beside 丑. The 手 part shows that the meaning involves a hand action, and 丑 gives the sound.

Open 扭 →

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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