改 gǎi alter
alter; to change; to correct
How to remember 改: 己 self + 攵 tap = alter. The bride looks at a photo of her younger self, gives the tailor a tap on the shoulder and asks him to alter the sleeves.
Component breakdown
改 = 己 self + 攵 tap
- 己 self
- 攵 tap
The bride looks at a photo of her younger self, gives the tailor a tap on the shoulder and asks him to alter the sleeves.
How it is used
- To change / alter / correct - 改变 (gǎibiàn) change, 修改 (xiūgǎi) revise/amend, 改正 (gǎizhèng) correct a mistake.
- 改 implies modifying something existing (fixing, revising), not creating anew.
- 改天 (gǎitiān) 'some other day' is a common soft way to postpone: 改天再聊 let's talk another time.
Words with 改
- 改变gǎibiànto changeHSK 4
- 修改xiūgǎito amendHSK 5
- 改善gǎishànto make betterHSK 5
- 改天gǎitiānanother dayHSK 5
- 改正gǎizhèngto correctHSK 5
- 改进gǎijìnto improveHSK 5
- 改革gǎigéreformHSK 5
- 改编gǎibiānto adaptHSK 6
- 改造gǎizàoto transformHSK 6
- 改动gǎidòngto alterHSK 7
- 改日gǎirìanother dayHSK 7
- 改观gǎiguānchange of appearanceHSK 7
- 更改gēnggǎito alterHSK 7
- 改版gǎibǎnto revise the current editionHSK 8
- 改良gǎiliángto improve (something)HSK 8
- 改装gǎizhuāngto change one's costumeHSK 8
- 改邪归正gǎixié-guīzhèngto mend one's ways (idiom)HSK 8
Example sentences
- 他让我们改变了看法。 Tā ràng wǒmen gǎibiànle kànfǎ.He made us change our views.
- 老师要求学生改正缺点。 Lǎoshī yāoqiú xuésheng gǎizhèng quēdiǎn.The teacher asked the student to improve his weaknesses.