Chinese word

换

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuàn

Meaning

  • verbchange

Example

你要不要换发型？nǐ yào bú yào huàn fà xíng

Do you want to change your hairstyle?

Illustration for 换 (change)

More examples

在飞机上，我和朋友换了座位。zài fēi jī shàng wǒ hé péng yǒu huàn le zuò wèi

On the plane, my friend and I switched seats.

Core concept

Move one thing out and put another in its place, whether the thing is an object, choice, or state.

Common phrases

  • 换钱huàn qián

    exchange money

  • 换座位huàn zuò wèi

    switch seats

Similar words

改gǎi: Altering content or a method to make it take a new form.
变biàn: Changing into a different state or having a different quality.
交换jiāo huàn: Trading items or opinions between two sides.
更换gēng huàn: Taking out an old item and installing a new one instead.

Definition in Chinese

互相交换或替换，使事物从一种状态、位置变为另一种，既可指具体物品也可指抽象的改变。hù xiāng jiāo huàn huò tì huàn shǐ shì wù cóng yì zhǒng zhuàng tài wèi zhì biàn wéi lìng yì zhǒng jì kě zhǐ jù tǐ wù pǐn yě kě zhǐ chōu xiàng de gǎi biàn

Word origin

The verb 换 (huàn, "change") developed from physically exchanging things, which explains its use for replacing an item as well as changing a condition or choice.

Usage tips

  • English uses change for both swapping and becoming different, while this Chinese verb often highlights a deliberate choice of a new item, option, or arrangement.

Other meanings

  • replaceverb
  • exchangeverb

Word lists with this word