Meaning
to change; to alter; to transform; to correct
Chinese: 改变、修改。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “gai” becomes a different word in each tone. 改 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 改变gǎi biànto change; to alter; to transform
- 改造gǎi zàoto transform; to reform; to remodel; to remold
- 修改xiū gǎito amend; to alter; to modify
- 改进gǎi jìnto improve; to make better; improvement
- 改善gǎi shànto make better; to improve
Example Sentence
老师正在帮我改作文。Lǎo shī zhèng zài bāng wǒ gǎi zuò wén.The teacher is helping me correct my essay.
老师Lǎo shīteacher正zhèngfirst month of the lunar y在zàiat帮bāngto help我wǒI改gǎito change作文zuò wénto write an essay。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
己 (self) plus 攵 (a hand with a rod, an action): to act on oneself and put right — ‘to change, alter, transform; to correct, revise; to switch’ (改变, 修改, 改正).
A way to remember it
‘To change / correct’: 改变 (change), 修改 (revise).