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转化 (zhuǎn huà) — to transform, to convert; (chemistry) isomerization

Definition

转化 emphasizes changing one thing INTO another (often with 为/成), common in chemistry and abstract contexts like ideas or results. Compared with 转变 (a general shift), it stresses the resulting new form.

verb
to transformto convert(chemistry) isomerization

Examples

  • 转化。
    Zhè zhǒng wù zhì zài gāo wēn xià huì zhuǎn huà wèi lìng yì zhǒng xíng tài.
    This substance will transform into another form under high temperature.
  • 转化。
    Tā de sī xiǎng jīng lì le shēn kè de zhuǎn huà.
    His thinking underwent a profound transformation.
  • 转化。
    Qǐ yè xū yào jiāng chuàng xīn chéng guǒ zhuǎn huà wèi shí jì shēng chǎn lì.
    Enterprises need to convert innovation results into actual productivity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

转zhuǎnturn/change
化huàbecome/change

转 (turn/change) and 化 (become/change) combine to mean transform or convert.

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 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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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