轴

zhóu

轴 — zhóu

1. axis (geometric axis; rotation axis)

   地球绕着自己的轴自转。 dìqiú rào zhe zìjǐ de zhóu zìzhuàn — The Earth rotates around its own axis.

2. axle (part of a vehicle)

   汽车的后轴坏了，需要修理。 qìchē de hòuzhóu huài le xūyào xiūlǐ — The car's rear axle is broken and needs repair.

3. spool; mandrel; roller (a cylindrical shaft for winding thread, film, scrolls, etc.)

   照相机里有一个小轴用来卷胶片。 zhàoxiàngjī lǐ yǒu yígè xiǎo zhóu yònglái juǎn jiāopiàn — There is a small spindle in the camera to wind the film.

4. classifier for calligraphy/painting scrolls (a unit for scrolls/rolls)

   这批书法作品共有三轴。 zhè pī shūfǎzuòpǐn gòngyǒu sān zhóu — This batch of calligraphy works consists of three scrolls.

轴 — zhòu

1. used in 压轴 (yāzhòu): the finale or headlining act of a performance

   晚会的压轴是那位京剧名家的表演。 wǎnhuì de yāzhòu shì nàwèi jīngjù míngjiā de biǎoyǎn — The finale of the gala is a performance by that famous Peking opera artist.