(てんかんてん)

てんかんてん
noun
turning point
1. turning point
A crucial moment when a significant change occurs in a situation, often marking a shift in direction.
人生(じんせい)転換点(てんかんてん)だった。
It was a turning point in my life.
まさに時代(じだい)転換点(てんかんてん)だ。
It is truly a turning point of the era.
この出来事(できごと)歴史(れきし)転換点(てんかんてん)になった。
This event became a turning point in history.

Composed of 転換(てんかん) (conversion, shift) + (てん) (point). Used for significant, often decisive moments when the direction of events changes.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 人生(じんせい)転換点(てんかんてん): turning point in life
  • 歴史(れきし)転換点(てんかんてん): turning point in history
  • 転換点(てんかんてん)(むか)える: to reach a turning point
  • (おお)きな転換点(てんかんてん): a major turning point

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 転機(てんき): turning point (more personal; career, life decisions)
  • 転換点(てんかんてん): turning point (broader; history, society, trends)
  • 分岐点(ぶんきてん): branching point, fork in the road

REGISTER:
Slightly formal. Common in news, essays, and speeches. In casual speech, 転機(てんき) is more natural for personal turning points.