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转弯 (zhuǎn wān) — to turn (a corner), to make a turn

Definition

A verb-object phrase literally meaning 'turn a bend': to make a turn along a road or path. Separable verb — you can insert 了/了/过/个/一/个 etc. between 转 and 弯, as in 拐弯 does too but with a more casual feel.

verb
to turn (a corner)to make a turn

Examples

  • 转弯。
    Qián miàn lù kǒu qǐng zhuǎn wān.
    Please turn at the intersection ahead.
  • 。
    Tā kāi chē zhuǎn le yí gè wān jiù dào jiā le.
    He drove, made a turn, and arrived home.
  • ，转弯。
    Zhè tiáo lù hěn zhí, méi yǒu zhuǎn wān de dì fāng.
    This road is very straight; there's no place to turn.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

转zhuǎnturn
弯wānbend

转 is to turn, and 弯 is the bend or corner.

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 →

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 彎; 弯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌彎wān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彎 pairs 弓 (bow) with 䜌 as a sound part; the simplified 弯 is a later shorthand.

Open 弯 →
Appears in
Roads & Traffic

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