转运 (zhuǎn yùn) — to transfer cargo, to transship; (of luck) to take a turn for the better, to have a change of fortune

Definition

转运 has two distinct senses: literally, to transfer or transship cargo mid-route; figuratively, for luck to finally turn in your favor after a bad streak.

verb
to transfer cargoto transship(of luck) to take a turn for the betterto have a change of fortune

Examples

  • 转运。
    Zhè pī huò wù xū yào zài shàng hǎi zhuǎn yùn dào chuán shàng.
    This batch of goods needs to be transshipped onto a ship in Shanghai.
  • 转运，。
    Tā zuì jìn zhōng yú zhuǎn yùn le, zhǎo dào le hǎo gōng zuò.
    He finally had a turn of luck recently and found a good job.
  • 转运，。
    Xī wàng míng nián wǒ néng zhuǎn yùn, yí qiè shùn lì.
    I hope I can have a change of fortune next year and everything goes smoothly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

转zhuǎntransfer
运yùntransport

转 means to transfer and 运 means to transport; the two combine for cargo transfer, while the luck sense is a separate extension.

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 運; 运 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòmotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn運yùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 運 combines 辵, meaning motion, with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 运 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 运 →
Appears in
Change & Process

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