interchange, period, change, convert

About this kanji

The kanji 換 (kan) primarily means to change or interchange. It is often found in both verbs and nouns. In verbs, it can represent actions like replacing or converting something. For example, in the compound 交換 (こうかん, koukan), it means exchange, as in exchanging items or ideas. Another compound is 転換 (てんかん, tenkan), which means conversion, like converting one form into another. A practical term is 換気 (かんき, kanki), meaning ventilation, where you change air in a room. A usage note: when you see 換, think broadly about changing one thing to another, whether it’s money, items, or even ideas.

Example sentences

• 両替所でお金を換えた。

  I exchanged money at the currency exchange.

Meanings across languages

English

interchange, period, change, convert, replace, renew

Tiếng Việt

trao đổi, thời kỳ, thay đổi, chuyển đổi, thay thế, đổi mới

日本語

交換, 期間, 変化, 変換, 置き換え, 更新

한국어

교환, 기간, 변화, 변환, 교체, 갱신

中文

互换, 时期, 变化, 转换, 替换, 更新

id

pertukaran

th

การแลกเปลี่ยน

es

intercambio

fr

échange

de

Austausch

pt

intercâmbio

Common compounds

• 交換こうかんexchange, interchange, switching
• 転換てんかんconversion, diversion, changeover
• 換気かんきventilation
• 換金かんきんrealization (of goods into money), conversion (into money), liquidation
• 換算かんさんconversion (e.g. yen to dollars), change, exchange
• 互換ごかんinterchange, transposition, compatible (e.g. PC)
• 変換へんかんchange, conversion, transformation
• 換気扇かんきせんventilation fan, extractor fan