Chinese word

转向

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhuǎn xiàng

Meaning

  • verbturn

Example

司机看到障碍物就转向避开。sī jī kàn dào zhàng ài wù jiù zhuǎn xiàng bì kāi

The driver sees an obstacle and turns to avoid it.

Illustration for 转向 (turn)

More examples

公司最近转向线上销售，销量有所增长。gōng sī zuì jìn zhuǎn xiàng xiàn shàng xiāo shòu xiāo liàng yóu suǒ zēng zhǎng

The company recently shifted to online sales, and its sales increased.

Core concept

A shift of movement, attention, or policy from its present direction to a new one.

Common phrases

  • 转向左边zhuǎn xiàng zuǒ biān

    turn left

  • 政策转向zhèng cè zhuǎn xiàng

    policy shift

  • 汽车转向系统qì chē zhuǎn xiàng xì tǒng

    car steering system

Similar words

改变gǎi biàn: Make a situation, condition, or quality become different.
转变zhuǎn biàn: Become different in nature, condition, or state.
转弯zhuǎn wān: Change direction by turning at a bend or corner while moving along a road or path.
转身zhuǎn shēn: Turn the body around to face another direction while standing.

Definition in Chinese

使行动、注意力或事物从原来的方向转到另一个方向，既可指实际的转动，也可指方针或重点的改变。shǐ xíng dòng zhù yì lì huò shì wù cóng yuán lái de fāng xiàng zhuǎn dào lìng yí gè fāng xiàng jì kě zhǐ shí jì de zhuǎn dòng yě kě zhǐ fāng zhēn huò zhòng diǎn de gǎi biàn

Word origin

转 (zhuǎn, "turn") + 向 (xiàng, "direction") combines the act of turning with the direction it takes, forming a word for moving onto a different course.

Usage tips

  • English often uses turn for physical movement but uses shift for plans or policies, so this Chinese verb connects physical and abstract changes of direction.

Other meanings

  • change courseverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 转向灯zhuǎn xiàng dēngturn signalnoun
  • 转向盘zhuǎn xiàng pánsteering wheelnoun

Word lists with this word