輾轉

A retrogressive ablaut reduplication of 轉 (OC *tonʔ, “to turn”) in Old Chinese (Sun, 2003; Hsu, 2009):

轉 (OC *tonʔ, “to turn”) → 輾轉 (OC *tenʔ tonʔ, “to toss and turn”)

輾轉

1. to toss and turn (in bed)

   • 有美一人，碩大且儼。寤寐無為，輾轉伏枕。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     有美一人，硕大且俨。寤寐无为，辗转伏枕。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Yǒu měi yī rén, shuòdà qiě yǎn. Wùmèi wúwéi, zhǎnzhuǎn fúzhěn.

     There is the beautiful lady;
     Tall and large, and majestic.
     Waking or sleeping, I do nothing;
     On my side, on my back, with my face on the pillow, I lie.

   • 求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，輾轉反側。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Qiú zhī bù dé, wùmèi sīfú. Yōuzāi yōuzāi, zhǎnzhuǎn fǎncè.

     He sought her and found her not,
     And waking and sleeping he thought about her.
     Long he thought; oh! long and anxiously;
     On his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.

2. to pass through many hands or places

• 宛轉

輾轉

1. (Southern Min; or Taiwanese Mandarin in reference to Taiwanese proficiency) fluent; smooth

   不輪轉的台語／不轮转的台语 [Taiwanese Mandarin]  ―  bù lúnzhuàn de táiyǔ   ―  non-fluent Taiwanese

輾轉

1. (Mainland China Hokkien) Classifier for small rotations.

• “Entry #12463”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.