Chinese word

转动

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhuǎn dòng

Meaning

  • verbturn

Example

请把门把手转动一下。qǐng bǎ mén bá shǒu zhuǎn dòng yí xià

Please turn the doorknob a little.

Illustration for 转动 (turn)

More examples

她转动钥匙，门就开了。tā zhuǎn dòng yào shi mén jiù kāi le

She turned the key, and the door opened.

Core concept

Motion that makes something face a new angle by circling around its own center or a supporting axis.

Common phrases

  • 转动门把手zhuǎn dòng mén bà shǒu

    turn the doorknob

  • 转动钥匙zhuǎn dòng yào shi

    turn the key

  • 转动开关zhuǎn dòng kāi guān

    turn the switch

Similar words

转zhuǎn: Changing the direction or position of something by turning it.
旋转xuán zhuǎn: Revolving around one central point or axis in place.
拧níng: Using the hand to twist something around while holding it tightly.
扭niǔ: Twisting the body or a slender part with a turning motion.

Definition in Chinese

使物体绕某一轴或中心转动，改变其角度或方向；也可指物体自身围绕轴心旋转。shǐ wù tǐ rào mǒu yì zhóu huò zhōng xīn zhuǎn dòng gǎi biàn qí jiǎo dù huò fāng xiàng yě kě zhǐ wù tǐ zì shēn wéi rào zhóu xīn xuán zhuǎn

Word origin

转 (zhuǎn, "turn") supplies the idea of changing direction and 动 (dòng, "move") supplies the action, forming a compound for physical rotary motion.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English spin, this word does not by itself suggest high speed, force, or playfulness, so it remains neutral when describing a knob, wheel, or other rotating part.

Other meanings

  • rotateverb
  • spinverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word