改变 gǎibiàn to change
to change; alter; to transform
How to remember 改变: 改 alter + 变 change = to change.
Characters
How it is used
- To change/alter something, often deep or lasting - 改变主意 (gǎibiàn zhǔyi) change one's mind; 改变命运 (gǎibiàn mìngyùn) change one's fate.
- Can be transitive (改变世界, change the world) or intransitive (态度改变了, the attitude changed).
- Contrast 变化 (biànhuà), which is more the change/variation itself as a noun or a spontaneous change; 改变 emphasizes actively making it different. Contrast 换 (huàn), which is swapping one thing for another (换工作 change jobs).
Example sentences
- 我没改变。 Wǒ méi gǎibiàn.I haven't changed.
- 他改变想法了。 Tā gǎibiàn xiǎngfǎ le.He changed his mind.
- 他让我们改变了看法。 Tā ràng wǒmen gǎibiànle kànfǎ.He made us change our views.