Meaning of 变
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to change
- to become different
- to transform
- to vary
- rebellion
How to use 变
变 is a common verb meaning to change or become different, and it often takes a result after it, such as 变成 (biànchéng, to turn into) or an adjective. 天气变冷了。(Tiānqì biàn lěng le.) The weather has gotten cold. The sense of rebellion mostly appears in fixed historical words, not in everyday speech.
The simplified 变 (biàn) has 亦 (yì) on top, the same shape that starts 恋 (liàn), and 又 (yòu, again) underneath. Picture something that keeps happening again and again until it turns into something different.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 变 and 改变 (gǎibiàn). 改变 usually takes an object you actively change, as in 改变计划 (gǎibiàn jìhuà, to change the plan). Bare 变 more often describes something becoming different by itself, as in 他变了 (tā biàn le, he has changed).
变 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
变 biàn · to change · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 变.
| 改变 | gǎibiàn | to change; to alter |
| 变成 | biànchéng | to change into; to turn into |
| 变化 | biànhuà | (intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation |
| 转变 | zhuǎnbiàn | to change; to transform |
| 变为 | biànwéi | to change into |
| 变动 | biàndòng | to change; to fluctuate |
| 变形 | biànxíng | to become deformed; to change shape; to morph |
| 变更 | biàngēng | to change; to alter |
| 变换 | biànhuàn | to transform; to convert |
| 变异 | biànyì | variation |
| 变革 | biàngé | to transform; to change |
| 演变 | yǎnbiàn | to develop; to evolve |
Questions about 变
What does 变 mean?
变 (biàn) means "to change; to become different" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 变?
变 is made of 1 character: 变 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 变 an HSK word?
Yes. 变 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 变 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 变 is written 變.
What is the difference between 变 and 换 (huàn)?
变 means something itself becomes different, while 换 means to swap one thing for another. 换衣服 (huàn yīfu) means to change into other clothes, but you would not say 变衣服.
How do you say something got better or worse with 变?
Put an adjective after 变 and usually add 了, as in 变好了 (biàn hǎo le, got better) or 变胖了 (biàn pàng le, got fatter). You can add 得 for degree, as in 变得很安静 (biàn de hěn ānjìng, became very quiet).