扭转
niǒuzhuǎn · HSK 7
to reverse; to turn around (an undesirable situation)
🔄 扭 niǔ = twist + 转 zhuǎn = turn; twist-and-turn a situation back around
扭 — hand radical 扌 + 丑 (chǒu, phonetic)
扭 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 indicates an action done with the hand, while 丑 supplies the sound. It originally meant to twist or wrench by hand, and still carries senses like to turn, twist, or sprain.
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.