Meaning of 改革
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- reform
- to reform
Measure word: 次,種|种,項|项
How to use 改革
改革 is used for large-scale changes to systems, institutions, or policies, such as the economy, education, or government. It works as both a verb and a noun. Example: 国家正在改革教育制度。(Guójiā zhèngzài gǎigé jiàoyù zhìdù.) The country is reforming its education system.
改 (gǎi) means to change, and 革 (gé) is the character for leather or hide, which also carries the sense of stripping away the old. Picture peeling off an old hide to change something at its core, and you get 改革, a deep reform.
Common mistake: Learners often use 改革 for small personal changes, like changing a habit or editing an essay. For those, use 改变 (gǎibiàn) or 修改 (xiūgǎi); 改革 sounds far too grand for everyday things.
改革 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.
改 gǎi · to change · 7 strokes
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革 gé · leather · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 改革.
| 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 |
| 改装 | gǎizhuāng | to change one's costume; to repackage |
| 革新 | géxīn | to innovate; innovation |
| 革命 | gémìng | to withdraw the mandate of heaven (and transition to a new dynasty) (original meaning); re |
| 改编 | gǎibiān | to adapt; to rearrange |
| 更改 | gēnggǎi | to alter |
| 改名 | gǎimíng | to rename |
Questions about 改革
What does 改革 mean?
改革 (gǎigé) means "reform; to reform" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 改革?
改革 is made of 2 characters: 改 (7 strokes), 革 (9 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 改革 an HSK word?
Yes. 改革 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 改革开放 mean?
改革开放 (gǎigé kāifàng) means "reform and opening up." It refers to the economic reforms China began in 1978 and is a very common phrase in news and history texts.
What is the difference between 改革 and 改进?
改革 means changing a system in a fundamental way. 改进 (gǎijìn) means improving something that already works, such as a method or a product, without restructuring it.