空转 (kōng zhuàn) — (of an engine or machine) to idle, to race without doing useful work

Definition

空转 (kōngzhuàn) describes a machine or engine running without doing useful work — idling, spinning without load, or racing pointlessly. Often used in technical contexts (cars, motors, equipment).

verb
(of an engine or machine) to idle, to race without doing useful work

Examples

  • 空转。
    Qì chē zài děng dài shí bú yào cháng shí qī kōng zhuàn.
    Don't let the car idle for long periods while waiting.
  • 空转。
    kōng zhuàn Huì làng fèi rán yóu bìng zēng jiā pái fàng.
    Idling wastes fuel and increases emissions.
  • 空转。
    Jì shù rén yuán zhèng zài jiǎn chá jī qì kōng zhuàn de yuán yīn.
    The technician is checking the cause of the machine idling.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

空kōngempty
转zhuǎnturn

The parts for 空 empty and 转 turn suggest turning without useful load.

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.