旋

2 readings · tap one to hear it

to revolve; a loop; a circle

Sound it out + + = · + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Ideographic compound (会意字)

An army 方 marching under a flag 疋

Components 方疋 ? unknown part

whirl · Heisig RSH #2128

banner + zoo

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
天旋地转	tiān xuán dì zhuàn	the sky spins, the earth goes round (idiom); giddy with one's head spinning; fig. huge cha…
高山旋木雀	gāo shān xuán mù què	(bird species of China) bar-tailed treecreeper (Certhia himalayana)
旋转木马	xuán zhuǎn mù mǎ	merry-go-round; carousel
打旋儿	dǎ xuán r	erhua variant of 打旋[da3 xuan2]
旋转运动	xuán zhuǎn yùn dòng	rotation; rotary motion
旋花科	xuán huā kē	Convolvulaceae, herbaceous plant family
反气旋	fǎn qì xuán	anticyclone
黑旋风	Hēi Xuàn fēng	Black Whirlwind, nickname of 李逵[Li3 Kui2], known for his fearsome behavior in combat and h…
旋转力	xuán zhuǎn lì	turning force; torque
旋转曲面	xuán zhuǎn qū miàn	a surface of revolution (math.)
旋转门	xuán zhuǎn mén	revolving door
回旋加速器	huí xuán jiā sù qì	(physics) cyclotron
旋转台	xuán zhuǎn tái	rotating platform; luggage carousel
旋风脚	xuàn fēng jiǎo	whirlwind kick (martial arts)
旋转球	xuán zhuǎn qiú	spin ball
旋转角速度	xuán zhuǎn jiǎo sù dù	rotational angular velocity
旋转角	xuán zhuǎn jiǎo	angle of rotation
核自旋	hé zì xuán	nuclear spin
四川旋木雀	Sì chuān xuán mù què	(bird species of China) Sichuan treecreeper (Certhia tianquanensis)
旋子	xuán zi	torsor (math.)

These characters use 旋 as their sound component — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
旋 sound part	xuán	to revolve, to orbit, to return
镟	xuàn	lathe