改 meaning in English

gǎi

to change; to alter

HSK 2verb7 strokes

Meaning of 改

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

gǎi

to change
to alter
to transform
to correct

How to use 改

改 is a common verb for changing or fixing something, often a plan, a mistake, or a piece of writing. It also appears in many compounds like 改变 (gǎibiàn) and 修改 (xiūgǎi). Example: 我要改一下时间。(Wǒ yào gǎi yíxià shíjiān.) I need to change the time.

改 has 己 (jǐ, self) on the left and 攵, a hand holding a stick, on the right. Picture a hand working on yourself to change and correct your own habits.

Common mistake: Learners often write the left side as 已 (yǐ) or 巳 (sì) instead of 己 (jǐ). In 改 the top-left stroke stays open and does not close up. Also remember the third tone, gǎi, not gài.

改 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

你nǐ的de论lùn文wén还hái需xū要yào改gǎi进jìn。

Your essay still needs some improvement.

我wǒ们men不bú会huì做zuò任rèn何hé改gǎi动dòng。

We won't change anything.

无wú论lùn如rú何hé，我wǒ不bú会huì改gǎi变biàn我wǒ的de想xiǎng法fǎ。

Come what may, I won't change my mind.

金jīn钱qián改gǎi变biàn了le他tā的de生shēng活huó。

Money has changed his life.

这zhè样yàng做zuò的de话huà什shén么me都dōu不bú会huì改gǎi变biàn的de。

That'll change nothing.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

改 gǎi · to change · 7 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 改.

改变	gǎibiàn	to change; to alter
修改	xiūgǎi	to amend; to alter
改造	gǎizào	to transform; to reform
改进	gǎijìn	to improve; to make better; improvement
改善	gǎishàn	to make better; to improve
改正	gǎizhèng	to correct; to amend
改革	gǎigé	reform; to reform
改装	gǎizhuāng	to change one's costume; to repackage
改编	gǎibiān	to adapt; to rearrange
更改	gēnggǎi	to alter
改名	gǎimíng	to rename
改动	gǎidòng	to alter; to modify

Questions about 改

What does 改 mean?

改 (gǎi) means "to change; to alter" and is used as a verb.

How do you write 改?

改 is made of 1 character: 改 (7 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.

Is 改 an HSK word?

Yes. 改 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 改 and 改变?

改 is short and often takes a concrete object, like 改作业 (gǎi zuòyè, correct homework) or 改时间 (change the time). 改变 (gǎibiàn) sounds more general and is used for bigger changes in plans, ideas, or situations, like 改变主意 (change one's mind).

How do you say 'change it next time' or 'some other day' with 改?

Chinese uses 改天 (gǎitiān) to mean 'another day', as in 我们改天再聊 (wǒmen gǎitiān zài liáo), let's talk another day. Similarly, 改日 (gǎirì) means the same in more formal speech.