变化 meaning in English
(intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation
Meaning of 变化
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- (intransitive) to change; to vary
- change; variation
How to use 变化
变化 works as an intransitive verb or a noun for change in weather, situations, people, or society. It often appears with 很大 or 有. Example: 这几年北京的变化很大。(Zhè jǐ nián Běijīng de biànhuà hěn dà.) Beijing has changed a lot in the past few years.
变 (biàn) means to change and 化 (huà) means to transform, so 变化 is two words for change stacked together. Picture 化 as a person 亻 next to another figure, as if someone is turning into something new.
Common mistake: Learners often use 变化 with a direct object, as in 变化我的计划. Because it is intransitive, you need 改变 (gǎibiàn) instead: 改变我的计划. Also note that 化 in 变化 is fourth tone (huà), not first tone (huā) like 花 (huā).
变化 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
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 8
化 huà · to make into · 4 strokes
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- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 变化.
| 改变 | gǎibiàn | to change; to alter |
| 变成 | biànchéng | to change into; to turn into |
| 文化 | wénhuà | culture; civilization |
| 转变 | zhuǎnbiàn | to change; to transform |
| 变为 | biànwéi | to change into |
| 现代化 | xiàndàihuà | modernization |
| 消化 | xiāohuà | to digest (food); (fig.) to absorb (information etc); to assimilate; to process |
| 进化 | jìnhuà | to evolve (biologically, technologically etc); evolution |
| 化石 | huàshí | fossil |
| 转化 | zhuǎnhuà | to change; to turn; to convert; (genetics) to transform |
| 变动 | biàndòng | to change; to fluctuate |
| 变形 | biànxíng | to become deformed; to change shape; to morph |
Questions about 变化
What does 变化 mean?
变化 (biànhuà) means "(intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 变化?
变化 is made of 2 characters: 变 (8 strokes), 化 (4 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 变化 an HSK word?
Yes. 变化 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 变化 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 变化 is written 變化.
What is the difference between 变化 and 变成?
变化 describes change in general and does not say what something becomes. 变成 (biànchéng) is followed by the result, as in 水变成了冰 (Water turned into ice).
Can 变化 be used for small changes?
Yes. You can say 有一点变化 (yǒu yìdiǎn biànhuà), there is a slight change, or 没什么变化 (méi shénme biànhuà), not much has changed.