变化 biànhuà change
change; vary
How to remember 变化: 变 change + 化 change = change.
Characters
How it is used
- Change/variation, as noun and verb - 天气变化 (tiānqì biànhuà) weather changes, 发生了变化 (fāshēng le biànhuà) a change occurred.
- 变化 is change that happens (often gradual/natural); 改变 (gǎibiàn) is to actively change something.
- Often intransitive: things 变化, whereas you 改变 things: 改变主意 (gǎibiàn zhǔyi) change one's mind.
- 变化多端 (biànhuà-duōduān) = ever-changing/unpredictable.
Example sentences
- 这几年上海的变化很快。 Zhè jǐ nián Shànghǎi de biànhuà hěn kuài.Shanghai has changed rapidly the last few years.