急转弯
jí zhuǎn wān · HSK 7
to make a sudden turn
↩️ 急 sudden + 转 turn + 弯 bend = a sudden sharp turn
Built from 急 (urgent/sudden), 转 (to turn/rotate), and 弯 (bend/curve). The same word labels hairpin road signs and also a sudden change of plan or topic.
急 — heart radical 心 + 及 (reach)
A semantic-phonetic compound: the heart radical 心 supplies the meaning (an emotional state) while 及 ('to reach, catch up') gives the sound. Originally it depicted a racing, anxious heart — hence the modern senses 'urgent,' 'hurried,' and 'impatient.'
转 — car radical 车 + 专 (phonetic)
转 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 车 (cart/wheel) gives the meaning, evoking something that turns or rotates like a wheel. The right side 专 supplies the sound. Originally referring to the turning of a cart's wheels, it broadened to mean 'turn,' 'rotate,' or 'shift' in general.
弯 — bow 弓 + 䜌 (phonetic)
A phono-semantic compound: 弓 (bow) gives the meaning 'curved, bent,' since a drawn bow forms an arc, while 䜌 supplies the sound. The simplified form 弯 keeps 弓 below a reduced top component. The core sense has always been 'bend' or 'curve.'