扭 niǔ to turn
to turn; to twist; to wrench; to sprain
How to remember 扭: 扌 hand + 丑 ugly = to turn. With one hand the plumber grabs the ugly rusty tap and uses all his strength to turn it open.
Component breakdown
扭 = 扌 hand + 丑 ugly
- 扌 hand
- 丑 ugly
With one hand the plumber grabs the ugly rusty tap and uses all his strength to turn it open.
How it is used
- To twist/turn/wrench - 扭头 (niǔtóu) turn one's head, 扭转 (niǔzhuǎn) turn around/reverse (a situation): 扭转局面 (niǔzhuǎn júmiàn) turn the tide.
- 扭伤 (niǔshāng) = to sprain; 扭曲 (niǔqū) = to distort/twist (facts, shape).
- 别扭 (bièniu) = awkward/at odds, uncomfortable - a very common colloquial word (note the reading biè).