En 15 secondes
- Means to spin, twirl, or revolve around a central axis.
- Used for dancers, machinery, or elegant architectural features like revolving doors.
- More formal and descriptive than the simple word for 'turn'.
Signification
It describes something spinning, twirling, or revolving around a center point, like a dancer or a ceiling fan.
Exemples clés
3 sur 7Watching a ballet performance
那个芭蕾舞演员在舞台上不停地旋转。
That ballet dancer is spinning non-stop on the stage.
Entering a fancy hotel
请走这边的旋转门。
Please use the revolving door over here.
Ordering at a sushi belt restaurant
我最喜欢去旋转寿司店吃饭。
I love eating at conveyor belt sushi restaurants.
Contexte culturel
The concept of rotation is tied to the 'Tao' and the cycle of nature in Chinese philosophy. Modernly, the term became very popular with the rise of Western-style ballroom dancing and the iconic 'revolving restaurants' that defined the skylines of 1980s Shanghai and Beijing.
The 'Sushi' Secret
In China, conveyor belt sushi is almost always called `旋转寿司`. If you're looking for a quick lunch, search for this term on your maps app!
Don't use for Dizziness
If you feel like the room is spinning after a few drinks, don't say your head is `旋转`. Say `我头晕` (Wǒ tóu yūn).
En 15 secondes
- Means to spin, twirl, or revolve around a central axis.
- Used for dancers, machinery, or elegant architectural features like revolving doors.
- More formal and descriptive than the simple word for 'turn'.
What It Means
旋转 describes the physical action of spinning or revolving. Think of a ballerina twirling on stage. It can also describe mechanical parts moving. It is a very visual and dynamic word. You can almost feel the wind it creates.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb or an adjective. If you see a dancer, say they are 旋转. If you see a revolving door, that is a 旋转门. It is quite versatile for anything that moves in circles. Don't use it for walking in a circle, though. That is different.
When To Use It
Use it when you are at a dance performance. Use it when describing a cool restaurant on top of a building. It is perfect for describing the stars in the night sky. You can also use it when talking about physics or machines. It feels slightly more elegant than just saying 'turning' or 'moving'.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you are just feeling dizzy. If your head is spinning, use 晕. Don't use it for turning a corner in a car. That is 转弯. 旋转 implies a continuous, circular motion around an axis. If you use it for a car turn, people might think you are doing a 360-degree stunt!
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the circle represents perfection and unity. 旋转 is often associated with the 'Lotus Dance' or traditional ribbon dances. It suggests a sense of flow and energy. In modern cities, 'revolving restaurants' (旋转餐厅) were a huge symbol of luxury in the 90s. Even today, they represent a high-end dining experience with a view.
Common Variations
You will often see 旋转木马 which means a carousel or merry-go-round. It literally translates to 'spinning wooden horses'. Another common one is 旋转式, meaning 'rotary style'. If you want to describe a whirlwind or a vortex, you might hear 旋涡.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is very safe to use in almost any context. Just remember it describes the *action* of spinning rather than a simple change in direction.
The 'Sushi' Secret
In China, conveyor belt sushi is almost always called `旋转寿司`. If you're looking for a quick lunch, search for this term on your maps app!
Don't use for Dizziness
If you feel like the room is spinning after a few drinks, don't say your head is `旋转`. Say `我头晕` (Wǒ tóu yūn).
The Romantic Spin
In C-Dramas, the 'accidental spin and catch' is a huge trope. Characters often `旋转` into each other's arms to signal a romantic spark.
Exemples
7那个芭蕾舞演员在舞台上不停地旋转。
That ballet dancer is spinning non-stop on the stage.
Describes graceful, artistic movement.
请走这边的旋转门。
Please use the revolving door over here.
Common noun usage for architectural features.
我最喜欢去旋转寿司店吃饭。
I love eating at conveyor belt sushi restaurants.
Refers to the 'rotating' nature of the food belt.
我们去坐旋转木马吧！
Let's go ride the carousel!
Uses the common term for merry-go-round.
吊扇在头顶飞快地旋转。
The ceiling fan is spinning rapidly overhead.
Describes mechanical rotation.
他跳舞像个旋转的陀螺，停不下来。
He dances like a spinning top; he can't stop.
Uses a simile with a spinning top (陀螺) for humor.
我们在星空下旋转，仿佛世界都静止了。
We twirled under the stars, as if the world stood still.
Evokes a poetic, romantic atmosphere.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct term for a revolving door.
这家酒店的大厅有一个巨大的___门。
`旋转门` is the standard term for a revolving door.
Describe the motion of a fan.
电风扇正在___，带来阵阵凉风。
Fans spin or rotate, which is best described by `旋转`.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'To Rotate'
Using '转' for simple turns
往右转 (Turn right)
Standard description of spinning
旋转木马 (Carousel)
Scientific or poetic description
地球绕太阳旋转 (Earth revolves around the sun)
Where you'll see 旋转
Amusement Park
旋转木马
Fine Dining
旋转餐厅
Dance Studio
华尔兹旋转
Office Building
旋转门
Banque d exercices
2 exercices这家酒店的大厅有一个巨大的___门。
`旋转门` is the standard term for a revolving door.
电风扇正在___，带来阵阵凉风。
Fans spin or rotate, which is best described by `旋转`.
🎉 Score : /2
Questions fréquentes
10 questions转 is a general word for turning or changing direction. 旋转 specifically means spinning or revolving in a circle multiple times.
Not usually. If you want someone to turn their body around to face you, use 转身. 旋转 implies a more continuous spinning motion.
Yes, it is the standard term for 'rotation' in physics and astronomy, such as 地球旋转 (Earth's rotation).
It is 旋转餐厅. These are popular in major Chinese cities for seeing the skyline while you eat.
It is neutral. You can use it in a science textbook or while talking to a child at a playground.
Yes, it can mean 'rotation' as a concept, but it is most commonly used as a verb or an adjective describing a noun.
A spinning top toy is called a 陀螺. You often see people playing with giant ones in Chinese parks!
Yes, 风扇在旋转 is the perfect way to describe a fan blades moving.
No, it is a neutral descriptive word. However, if something is spinning out of control, you might add other words to show that.
It is 旋转木马, which literally means 'rotating wooden horses'.
Expressions liées
转弯 (To turn a corner)
转身 (To turn around)
打转 (To spin in place/circle around)
公转 (Revolution - like a planet)
自转 (Rotation - like a planet on its axis)
