辗 (zhǎn) — (bound form) to roll over; to toss about (used in compounds like 辗转)
Definition
Bound form meaning 'to roll/toss about' or 'to pass through many hands' — almost never stands alone. It appears in compounds like 辗转 (to toss and turn, or to travel/pass through many places).
bound form
to roll overto toss about (used in compounds like 辗转)
Easily confused
- 碾niǎnlook-aliketo crush or flatten (with a roller or heavy object)
- 展zhǎnsound-aliketo spread out; to unfold; to open up
- 盏zhǎnsound-alike(classifier) for lamps, lanterns, and other light sources (also literary: small cup)
- 斩zhǎnsound-aliketo behead (as capital punishment)
- 崭zhǎnsound-alike(bound form) towering; outstanding
Examples
- ，。Tā zuó wǎn zhǎn zhuǎn fǎn cè, yí yè méi shuì hǎo.He tossed and turned last night and didn't sleep well.
- 。Zhè ge xiāo xi zhǎn zhuǎn chuán dào le wǒ ěr zhōng.This news reached my ears after passing through many hands.
- 。Tā zhǎn zhuǎn yú gè gè chéng shì zhī jiān.He traveled from city to city.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 輾; 辗 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcart
Sound part声符shēngfú
㞋
㞋㞋輾zhǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
For 辗, the traditional form 輾 has 車, a cart, on the left and 展 as a sound part.
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