Difference between revisions of "Comparing "zhuan" and "guai""

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* 这里 只 可以 <strong>右</strong> <em>拐</em>,不 可以 <strong>左</strong> <em>拐</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ zhǐ kěyǐ <strong>yòu</strong> <em>guǎi</em>,bù kěyǐ <strong>zuǒ</strong> <em>guǎi</em>.</span><span class="trans">You can only turn right here, not left.</span>
 
* 这里 只 可以 <strong>右</strong> <em>拐</em>,不 可以 <strong>左</strong> <em>拐</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ zhǐ kěyǐ <strong>yòu</strong> <em>guǎi</em>,bù kěyǐ <strong>zuǒ</strong> <em>guǎi</em>.</span><span class="trans">You can only turn right here, not left.</span>
 
* 到 了 前面 的 十字路口 <strong>往 右<strong> <em>转</em>。<span class="pinyin">Dào le qiánmiàn de shízìlùkǒu <strong>wǎng yòu</strong> <em>zhuǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">When you reach the intersection ahead turn right.</span>
 
* 到 了 前面 的 十字路口 <strong>往 右<strong> <em>转</em>。<span class="pinyin">Dào le qiánmiàn de shízìlùkǒu <strong>wǎng yòu</strong> <em>zhuǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">When you reach the intersection ahead turn right.</span>
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* 请问,电影院 是 <strong>往 右</strong> <em>转</em> 还是 <strong>往 左</strong> <em>转</em>? <span class="pinyin">Qǐngwèn, diànyǐngyuàn shì <strong> wǎng yòu <strong> <em> zhuǎn </em> háishì <strong> wǎng zuǒ <strong> <em> zhuǎn </em>?</span>
 
* 请问,电影院 是 <strong>往 右</strong> <em>转</em> 还是 <strong>往 左</strong> <em>转</em>? <span class="pinyin">Qǐngwèn, diànyǐngyuàn shì <strong> wǎng yòu <strong> <em> zhuǎn </em> háishì <strong> wǎng zuǒ <strong> <em> zhuǎn </em>?</span>
* 你从那个咖啡店<strong>左</strong> <em>拐</em> ,就能 看到 我 了。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ cóng nàge kāfēidiàn <strong> zuǒ </strong> <em> guǎi </em>, jiù néng kàn dào wǒ le.</span>
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* 你 从 那个 咖啡 店 <strong>左</strong> <em>拐</em> ,就能 看到 我 了。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ cóng nàge kāfēidiàn <strong> zuǒ </strong> <em> guǎi </em>, jiù néng kàn dào wǒ le.</span>
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== Use 转 for shifts or changes the body’s position ==
 
== Use 转 for shifts or changes the body’s position ==

Revision as of 04:08, 6 May 2022

拐 (guǎi) and 转 (zhuǎn) both are verbs that mean "to turn" and oftentimes can be used interchangeably. 转 is used in used in both informal and formal situations, whereas 拐 is used only in informal situations, more common in certain regions like Shanghai. We focus here on “to turn” when driving a car, walking, or giving directions.











B1HSK5ASV4567
拐 (guǎi) 转 (zhuǎn)
Meaning to turn to turn
Part of Speech verb verb
Formality informal flexible

Both 拐 and 转 can be used for "to turn" in directions

Common Phrases

In the following examples both 拐 and 转 can be used. Remember that 拐 is informal and not commonly used everywhere in China.

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

Example Sentences

  • 你 在 前面 就 到 了。Nǐ zài qiánmiàn yòu guǎi jiù dào le.Turn right up ahead and you're there.
  • 请 一直 走,然后 向 左 Qǐng yīzhí zǒu, ránhòu xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn.Please go straight and then turn to the left.
  • 这里 只 可以 ,不 可以 Zhèlǐ zhǐ kěyǐ yòu guǎi,bù kěyǐ zuǒ guǎi.You can only turn right here, not left.
  • 到 了 前面 的 十字路口 往 右 Dào le qiánmiàn de shízìlùkǒu wǎng yòu zhuǎn.When you reach the intersection ahead turn right.
  • 请问,电影院 是 往 右 还是 往 左 Qǐngwèn, diànyǐngyuàn shì wǎng yòu zhuǎn háishì wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn ?
  • 你 从 那个 咖啡 店 ,就能 看到 我 了。 Nǐ cóng nàge kāfēidiàn zuǒ guǎi , jiù néng kàn dào wǒ le.

Use 转 for shifts or changes the body’s position

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 转 can be used.

  • 向 后 转xiàng hòu zhuǎnturn around (facing backwards)
  • 转 身zhuǎn shēnturn (one's whole body) around
  • 转 脸zhuǎn liǎnturn one's face
  • 转 头zhuǎn tóuturn one's head

Example Sentences

  • 请 你 现在 向 后 ,你 就 可以 看 到 我 了。Qǐng nǐ xiànzài xiàng hòu zhuǎn, nǐ jiù kěyǐ kàn dào wǒ le.Please turn to face backwards now so that you can see me.
  • 我 刚 ,他 就 不见 了。Wǒ gāng zhuǎn shēn, tā jiù bùjiàn le.I just turned around and he was gone.
  • 她 说 完 这句 话 以后 就 向 窗 外 看。Tā shuō wán zhèjù huà yǐhòu jiù zhuǎn liǎn xiàng chuāng wài kàn.After she said it, she turned her face to look out the window.
  • 请 你 一下 ,否则 我 看 不到 你 的 脸。Qǐng nǐ zhuǎn yīxià tóu, fǒuzé wǒ kàn bùdào nǐ de liǎn.Please turn your head, otherwise I can't see your face.

Sources and further reading

Websites