改正 gǎizhèng to correct
to correct; to amend; to put right; correction
How to remember 改正: 改 alter + 正 upright = to correct.
Characters
How it is used
- To correct / put right (a mistake or fault) - 改正错误 (gǎizhèng cuòwù) correct one's mistakes.
- Fixing one's own errors or bad behavior toward what's right (正). Distinguish from 修改 (xiūgǎi, to revise/edit a text) and 纠正 (jiūzhèng, to correct someone else, more forceful).
- 知错就改 (recognize a fault and fix it) captures its spirit.
Example sentences
- 老师要求学生改正缺点。 Lǎoshī yāoqiú xuésheng gǎizhèng quēdiǎn.The teacher asked the student to improve his weaknesses.
- 坏习惯一旦被养成，便不能简单地改正。 Huàixíguàn yídàn bèi yǎngchéng, biàn bùnéng jiǎndān de gǎizhèng.Once you've formed a bad habit, you can't get rid of it easily.