Meaning
Whether you are pedaling a bike or switching careers, the kanji 転 captures the essence of things turning or changing state. At its most literal, it represents physical rotation—like a wheel spinning or a ball rolling. Beyond that, it describes life's many transitions. This includes moving to a new school, changing your job, or even just a sudden shift in your mood.
Take a look at how the character is built. On the left is the 車 (wheel) radical. This immediately tells you the kanji involves movement or transport. The right side is 云. While it means 'say' in modern Japanese, it originally suggested something curling or rising up. In the traditional form (轉), the right side was quite complex. The modern simplified version is much easier to write while keeping that visual connection to a wheel in motion.
This kanji is a Grade 3 staple and a core part of the N4 vocabulary. It appears in several of the most useful words for daily life in Japan. Understanding 転 helps you talk about everything from driving a car to tripping on the sidewalk.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The reading テン (ten) is your go-to for compound words. It usually carries a systematic or abstract nuance of 'revolving' or 'changing.' You will find this reading used consistently across many N4 and N3 level nouns.
運転 (unten) — Driving or operation. This literally means 'to transport and turn,' like turning a steering wheel or a machine's gears.
自転車 (jitensha) — Bicycle. This translates to 'self-turning vehicle,' referring to how the wheels turn via your own leg power.
転校 (tenkou) — Changing schools. This uses the 'change' nuance to describe a student transferring between institutions.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The native readings focus on physical actions and use okurigana (hiragana after the kanji). Pay close attention to these, as they describe different ways of rolling or falling.
転ぶ (korobu) — To fall down. This is the most common verb for when a person trips or loses their balance.
転がる (korogaru) — To roll. Use this for objects like a ball rolling away or a person rolling around on a mat.
転がす (korogasu) — To roll (something). This is the transitive version. You use it when you are the one moving an object, like rolling a heavy barrel or dice.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 転 is incredibly versatile. Here are the most common ways you will encounter it in the wild.
Transportation and Movement
運転手 (untenshu) — A driver or vehicle operator.
回転 (kaiten) — Rotation. You will see this at 回転ずし (conveyor belt sushi).
転回 (tenkai) — A turn or U-turn while driving.
Life and Career Changes
転職 (tenshoku) — Changing jobs or career paths.
転勤 (tenkin) — A job transfer, often involving a move to a different branch office.
移転 (iten) — Relocation, usually for a shop, office, or business.
転居 (tenkyo) — Moving house or changing your residence.
Physical Transitions
転倒 (tentou) — Falling down or tipping over. You will often see this in medical reports or formal news.
急展開 (kyuutenkai) — A sudden development or rapid turn of events in a story.
気分転換 (kibun tenkan) — A change of pace to refresh your mood.
Example Sentences
道で転んで、ひざをすりむきました。
Michi de koronde, hiza wo surimukimashita.
I tripped on the street and scraped my knee.
わたしは毎日、自転車で学校に行行きます。
Watashi wa mainichi, jitensha de gakkou ni ikimasu.
I commute to school by bicycle every day.
父はタクシーの運転手をしています。
Chichi wa takushii no untenshu wo shite imasu.
My father works as a taxi driver.
ボールが坂を転がっていきました。
Booru ga saka wo korogatte ikimashita.
The ball went rolling down the hill.
来月、新しい仕事に転職します。
Raigetsu, atarashii shigoto ni tenshoku shimasu.
I am starting a new job next month.
ちょっと散歩をして、気分転換しましょう。
Chotto sanpo wo shite, kibun tenkan shimashou.
Let's take a quick walk to refresh our mood.
この店は来週、駅の近くに移転します。
Kono mise wa raishuu, eki no chikaku ni iten shimasu.
This shop is relocating to a spot near the station next week.
回転ずしでおなかいっぱい食べました。
Kaitenzushi de onaka ippai tabemashita.
I ate my fill at the conveyor belt sushi restaurant.
雨で滑りやすいので、転ばないようにしてください。
Ame de suberiyasui node, korobanai you ni shite kudasai.
It's slippery because of the rain, so please watch your step.
Related Kanji
- 着 — Wear, Arrive, Contact (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
- 走 — Run, Move fast (Kanji N4)
- 思 — To Think, Feel, Imagine (Kanji N4)
- 持 — Hold, Possess, Carry (Kanji N4)
- 便 — Convenience, Facility, Communication (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
To memorize 転, look at the left: 車 (wheel). Now look at the right: 云 (which looks like a rising cloud). Imagine a wheel spinning so fast that it kicks up a cloud of dust as it turns. Or, picture a car hitting a bump and rolling over into a cloud of smoke. 'The wheel (車) turns and clouds (云) of dust rise.'