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扭转 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扭转niǔzhuǎnto reverseHSK 7, v, rank #8966, Hard
扭转niǔzhuǎnto turn around (an undesirable situation)HSK 7, v, rank #8966, Hard
niǔzhuǎn(niu3zhuan3) T3
  1. 1to reverse
  2. 2to turn around (an undesirable situation)
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March 24, 2026
扭转(扭轉)niǔzhuǎn(niu3zhuan3)

The verb 扭转 (niu3 zhuan3) means to reverse or turn around a situation, especially one that is undesirable or negative. It is often used in contexts related to changing outcomes, such as in politics, business, or personal circumstances, indicating a significant shift from a bad to a better condition.

Frequency#8966DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'turning around' a situation often resonates with beliefs in resilience and adaptability. It is common to hear about individuals or organizations that successfully 扭转 their fortunes after facing adversity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to 'twist' (扭) their way out of a bad situation and making a 'turn' (转) to a brighter path. Picture the character's components: the 'twisting' action of '扭' and the circular motion of '转' to reinforce the idea of reversing direction.

Meanings of 扭转

niǔzhuǎn(niu3zhuan3)
1to reverse
2to turn around (an undesirable situation)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 扭转

扭转Simplified
扭轉Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#8966Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 扭转

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Podcast: 扭转

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AI Study Notes for 扭转

Quick Contrast

扭转 (reverse) vs 改变 (change) — use 扭转 when emphasizing a reversal of a negative situation, while 改变 is more general and does not imply a negative to positive shift.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person trying to 'twist' (扭) their way out of a bad situation and making a 'turn' (转) to a brighter path. Picture the character's components: the 'twisting' action of '扭' and the circular motion of '转' to reinforce the idea of reversing direction.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 扭转, as mispronouncing either character can lead to confusion. This term is generally formal and might be encountered in written contexts such as reports or speeches. Common collocations include 扭转局势 (niǔ zhuǎn jú shì) - to reverse the situation.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 扭转 connects with other advanced vocabulary regarding change and transformation. Students should focus on its application in discussions about societal issues or personal growth to reinforce their understanding of context.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'turning around' a situation often resonates with beliefs in resilience and adaptability. It is common to hear about individuals or organizations that successfully 扭转 their fortunes after facing adversity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扭转 with similar verbs like 改变 (gǎi biàn), but 扭转 specifically implies a reversal rather than just a change. For example, saying '我想改变局势' (I want to change the situation) instead of using 扭转 might misrepresent the intention of reversing a negative situation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扭转

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Component Characters

niǔto turn
HSK 67 strokes
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zhuǎito convey
HSK 48 strokes
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Write 扭转

Practice writing 扭转 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 扭转

扭转 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他们谈到____历史潮流。

They talked of reversing the tide of history.

Example Sentences for 扭转 (1)

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1
他们谈到扭转历史潮流。

tā mén tán dào niǔ zhuǎn lì shǐ cháo liú。

They talked of reversing the tide of history.

Cultural Notes for 扭转

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'turning around' a situation often resonates with beliefs in resilience and adaptability. It is common to hear about individuals or organizations that successfully 扭转 their fortunes after facing adversity.

Frequently Asked Questions about 扭转

You could say, '我们需要扭转这个不利局面 (We need to reverse this unfavorable situation).'