改变 (gǎibiàn) — to change, to alter

改变 (gǎibiàn)

改变 means to change or alter something, typically implying a conscious effort to make something different from what it was before, often used for both concrete and abstract subjects.

Meanings

1. [verb] to change, to alter, to modify (something deliberately)
2. [noun] a change, an alteration

Example Sentences

她决心改变自己的生活方式。 Tā juéxīn gǎibiàn zìjǐ de shēnghuó fāngshì. She is determined to change her lifestyle.

这项政策的实施改变了数百万人的命运。 Zhè xiàng zhèngcè de shíshī gǎibiàn le shù bǎi wàn rén de mìngyùn. The implementation of this policy changed the fate of millions of people.

你必须改变你的学习方法，否则很难取得进步。 Nǐ bìxū gǎibiàn nǐ de xuéxí fāngfǎ, fǒuzé hěn nán qǔdé jìnbù. You must change your study methods, otherwise it will be difficult to make progress.

科技的进步从根本上改变了人们的通讯方式。 Kējì de jìnbù cóng gēnběn shàng gǎibiàn le rénmen de tōngxùn fāngshì. Technological progress has fundamentally changed the way people communicate.

他的一番话彻底改变了我对这件事的看法。 Tā de yī fān huà chèdǐ gǎibiàn le wǒ duì zhè jiàn shì de kànfǎ. His words completely changed my view of this matter.

面对困难，我们要积极寻求改变而不是逃避。 Miàn duì kùnnan, wǒmen yào jījí xúnqiú gǎibiàn ér bùshì táobì. Faced with difficulties, we should actively seek change rather than escape.

Collocations

Usage Notes

改变 is one of the most versatile words for "change" in Chinese and can apply to almost any domain. The key nuance at B2 level is that 改变 implies an agent (often human) making a conscious alteration to something. It differs from 变化 (which describes change as a natural process or observable phenomenon) in that 改变 often takes a direct object: 改变某事/某人.

Note that 改变 can also be used reflexively, as in 改变自己 (to change oneself), making it useful for personal development contexts.

Memory Hook

改 means to correct or reform, and 变 means to change -- 改变 is reform-change: you actively correct something to make it different.