换: the slot stays, what's in it changes

Where the picture shows up in 换

1. 1

   swap one thing for another

   这件太小了，能换一件吗？

   zhè jiàn tài xiǎo le, néng huàn yí jiàn ma

   This one's too small — could I exchange it?

   You lay the small one on the counter and the bigger one comes back into its place.

2. 2

   swap money for money

   我想换点人民币。

   wǒ xiǎng huàn diǎn rénmínbì

   I'd like to change some money into RMB.

   A stack of notes goes across the counter and a stack of yuan is set down where it was.

3. 3

   step out of one slot into another

   下个月我要换工作。

   xià ge yuè wǒ yào huàn gōngzuò

   I'm switching jobs next month.

   You clear out one desk, walk out, and turn up sitting at an empty desk in another building.

4. 4

   step off one train onto another

   在下一站换地铁。

   zài xià yí zhàn huàn dìtiě

   Transfer to the subway at the next stop.

   You step off the train you came on, cross the platform, and step onto another one.

5. 5

   put me in that slot

   换了我，我也不去。

   huàn le wǒ, wǒ yě bú qù

   If it were me, I wouldn't have gone either.

   You lift that person out of the spot they were standing in and stand yourself there instead.

   换了我 means 'swap me into that position and see'.