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转机 (zhuǎn jī) — (noun) a turn for the better; a turning point; a recovery (in a situation); (noun) a connecting flight; a transit stop (in air travel)

Definition

As a noun, 转机 means either a 'turning point / improvement' in a situation or a 'connecting flight' when traveling. Distinguish from 转折点 (a pure 'turning point' with no recovery sense) and from 契机 (an 'opportunity' that triggers change).

noun
a turn for the bettera turning pointa recovery (in a situation)a connecting flighta transit stop (in air travel)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，转机。
    Jīng guò duō cì tán pàn, xíng shì zhōng yú chū xiàn le zhuǎn jī.
    After many negotiations, the situation finally took a turn for the better.
  • 转机，。
    Wǒ de zhuǎn jī shì xià wǔ liǎng diǎn de háng bān, xū yào děng sān gè xiǎo shí.
    My connecting flight is at 2 pm, and I have to wait three hours.
  • 转机。
    Zhè cì hé zuò kě néng shì gōng sī fā zhǎn de yí gè zhuǎn jī.
    This cooperation could be a turning point for the company's development.

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
机jīopportunity; plane

转机 combines 转, a turn, with 机, an opportunity or plane, giving a turn for the better or a connecting flight.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Air TravelChange & Process

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