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転向 (てんこう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
conversion ; shift ; about-face ; switch
A change in direction, position, affiliation, or line of activity. Often used for ideological or political conversion, and also for switching careers or roles; as a verb it is intransitive in 転向する, commonly with から and に.
She switched from being a singer to being an actor.
Kanji 転 revolve, turn around, change Similar words 転てん 換かん A broader word for a change or conversion of systems, policies, moods, or direction; 転向 more strongly suggests a person or group changing allegiance, ideology, or role.
改かい 宗しゅう Specifically means religious conversion, while 転向 can be political, ideological, professional, or more generally directional.
変へん 節せつ Implies negatively changing one’s principles or betraying a former stance; 転向 can be neutral depending on context.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound of 転, associated with turning or changing, and 向, associated with direction or orientation; the spelling transparently suggests changing one’s direction or orientation.
