Comparing "zhuan" and "guai"

拐 and 转 both are verbs that mean to turn and oftentimes can be used interchangeably. 转 is used in used in informal/formal situations, whereas 拐 is used in informal situations. A key difference between these two is 转 is often used to say “turn” when driving a car on city streets or highways, while 拐 is often used to say “turn” when walking or riding a bike on narrow streets or small paths.

B1HSK5ASV4567

	拐 (guǎi)	转 (zhuǎn)
Meaning	to turn	to turn
Part of Speech	verb	verb
Formality	informal	flexible

:Yes

To say to turn oftentimes both 拐 and 转 can be used interchangeably.

Common Phrases

In the following examples both 拐 and 转 can be used.

• 右 转 / 拐yòu zhuǎn / guǎiturn right
• 左 转 / 拐zuǒ zhuǎn / guǎiturn left
• 往 右 转 / 拐wǎng yòu zhuǎn / guǎito the right turn
• 往 左 转 / 拐wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn / guǎito the left turn
• 向 右 转 / 拐xiàng yòu zhuǎn / guǎito the right turn
• 向 左 转 / 拐xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn / guǎito the left turn

To say to turn in the sense of to shift or change the body’s position use 转

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 转 can be used.

• 向 后 转xiàng hòu zhuǎnturn backwards
• 转 身zhuǎn shēnturn around
• 转 脸zhuǎn liǎnturn your face
• 转 头zhuǎn tóuturn your head

To say “a good turn” as in a change for the better use 转.

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 转 can be used.

• 好 转hǎo zhuǎngood change

Sources and further reading

Websites

"拐" 和 "转" 和有什么不一样? | HiNative https://zh.hinative.com/questions/18055423