化 huà — to make into; to change into; -ization; to ... -ize; to transform
春天到了，冰雪开始融化。Chūn tiān dào le, bīng xuě kāi shǐ róng huà.Spring has come, and the ice and snow begin to melt.
Common words: 变化 (biàn huà)、文化 (wén huà)、现代化 (xiàn dài huà)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to transform"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to transform", including 化 (huà), 变 (biàn), 改 (gǎi). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to transform" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 化 (huà), 变 (biàn), 改 (gǎi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span huà, biàn, gǎi — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 化 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 化 huàto make into; to change into; -ization; to ... -ize; to transformUseful words: 变化, 文化
- 变 biànto change; to become different; to transform; to vary; rebellionUseful words: 改变, 变成
- 改 gǎito change; to alter; to transform; to correctUseful words: 改变, 改造
Common words for these 3 "to transform" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 化 (huà) — so "to transform" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
变化biàn huà(intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation文化wén huàculture; civilization; cultural现代化xiàn dài huàmodernization改变gǎi biànto change; to alter; to transform变成biàn chéngto change into; to turn into; to become变化biàn huà(intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation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
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to transform".
变 biàn — to change; to become different; to transform; to vary; rebellion
天气变得越来越暖和了。Tiān qì biàn de yuè lái yuè nuǎn huo le.The weather is getting warmer and warmer.
Common words: 改变 (gǎi biàn)、变成 (biàn chéng)、变化 (biàn huà)
改 gǎi — to change; to alter; to transform; to correct
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.
Common words: 改变 (gǎi biàn)、改造 (gǎi zào)、修改 (xiū gǎi)
All 3 characters
Open 化、变、改 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.