transition

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is せん, and no kun reading is listed. It has 15 strokes and relates to change over time and a personnel transfer treated as a demotion.
• Basic usage: 変遷 is read へんせん, and 左遷 is read させん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 変遷 / 左遷
  • 変遷 means transition or evolution and is read へんせん. It refers to the evolution of a streetscape or meaning over time.
  • 展示では町並みの変遷を古い写真で紹介している。 means “The exhibit uses old photographs to show how the streetscape changed over time.”
  • 左遷 means demotion or relegation and is read させん. It refers to a transfer that lowers someone's position or is regarded as a demotion.
  • 役人は失言の責任を問われ、遠い町へ左遷されました。 means “The official was held responsible for a careless remark and demoted to a distant town.”