HSK 5 · Verbs

转变 zhuǎnbiàn “to change” in Chinese

Traditional 轉變

What 转变 means

  1. to change
  2. to transform
  3. shift
  4. transformation

Measure word 个 gè · 一个转变 yí ge zhuǎnbiàn

How to say 转变

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale转zhuǎn3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the fourth tone: falls from high to low, 5 to 1 on the five-level scale变biàn4th tone, falling

转变 in a sentence

  1. 他转变了话题。

    Tā zhuǎnbiàn le huàtí.

    He changed the subject.

    Sentence #429196 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 我深信事情会往更好的方向转变。

    Wǒ shēnxìn shìqing huì wǎng gèng hǎo de fāngxiàng zhuǎnbiàn.

    I’m convinced things will change for the better.

    Sentence #335248 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  3. 科技的进步为我们的生活带来了巨大的转变。

    Kējì de jìnbù wèi wǒmen de shēnghuó dàilái le jùdà de zhuǎnbiàn.

    Advances in technology have brought huge changes to our lives.

    Sentence #373393 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted

How 转变 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 转 (zhuǎn) with each of its parts in a different colour
转zhuǎnto turn
  • 车cart · chēMeaning part
  • 专concentrated · zhuānSound part

车 hints at the meaning (cart); 专 (zhuān) hints at the sound. Compare it with zhuǎn.

The character 变 (biàn) with each of its parts in a different colour
变biànto change
  • 亦also · yì
  • 又again · yòu

How to write 转变

转 8 strokes · 变 8 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

转变 (zhuǎnbiàn) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 转变 (zhuǎnbiàn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 转变

Words with 转

转zhuǎn · to turn转告zhuǎngào · to pass on转达zhuǎndá · to pass on扭转niǔzhuǎn · to turn around旋转xuánzhuǎn · to rotate转移zhuǎnyí · to transfer周转zhōuzhuǎn · turnover转让zhuǎnràng · to transfer (ownership)转折zhuǎnzhé · turning point

Words with 变

变biàn · to change变化biànhuà · change变成biànchéng · to turn into改变gǎibiàn · to change变质biànzhì · to go bad变故biàngù · misfortune变迁biànqiān · changes演变yǎnbiàn · to evolve

More words: Common Verbs

装修zhuāngxiū · to renovate主持zhǔchí · to host (a programme or event)抓紧zhuājǐn · to keep a firm grip on专心zhuānxīn · to concentrate装zhuāng · to pretend装饰zhuāngshì · to decorate追zhuī · to chase追求zhuīqiú · to pursue (a goal)

FAQs

转变 (zhuǎnbiàn) means “to change” or “to transform”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it zhuǎnbiàn: zhuǎn with a 3rd tone, then biàn with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 转变 is written 轉變. The pronunciation is the same.
Use 个 (gè). For example, one to change is 一个转变 (yí ge zhuǎnbiàn).
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type zhuanbian with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 转变 from the suggestions. Typing zhuanbian into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
转变 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Turn words into conversations

A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

Book a free intro call

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.