改革 (gǎigé) — reform, to reform

改革 (gǎigé)

Refers to deliberate, systematic changes made to institutions, policies, or systems in order to improve them -- a cornerstone word in Chinese political and social discourse.

Meanings

1. [noun] reform
2. [verb] to reform, to restructure

Example Sentences

中国自1978年起推行了一系列经济改革。 Zhōngguó zì 1978 nián qǐ tuīxíngle yī xìliè jīngjì gǎigé. China has implemented a series of economic reforms since 1978.

教育改革的目标是减轻学生的课业负担。 Jiàoyù gǎigé de mùbiāo shì jiǎnqīng xuéshēng de kèyè fùdān. The goal of education reform is to reduce students' academic burden.

这次医疗体制改革惠及数百万人。 Zhè cì yīliáo tǐzhì gǎigé huìjí shù bǎi wàn rén. This healthcare system reform has benefited tens of millions of people.

政府强调深化改革是实现现代化的必由之路。 Zhèngfǔ qiángdiào shēnhuà gǎigé shì shíxiàn xiàndàihuà de bìyóuzhī lù. The government emphasizes that deepening reform is the only path to modernization.

他主张对现行税收制度进行大幅改革。 Tā zhǔzhāng duì xiànxíng shuìshōu zhìdù jìnxíng dàfú gǎigé. He advocates for sweeping reform of the current tax system.

改革开放政策极大地改变了中国社会。 Gǎigé kāifàng zhèngcè jídà de gǎibiànle Zhōngguó shèhuì. The Reform and Opening Up policy dramatically transformed Chinese society.

Collocations

Usage Notes

改革 is one of the most politically significant words in modern Chinese. The phrase 改革开放 (Reform and Opening Up) refers specifically to China's post-1978 economic liberalization policy and is a fixed historical term that should be memorized as a unit.

As a standalone word, 改革 can modify nouns (改革方案, reform plan) or be used as a verb (改革制度, to reform a system). It always implies a structured, top-down process of institutional change, not individual or informal adjustments.

Memory Hook

改 means "to change" and 革 literally means "leather" but also carries the meaning of "to transform/revolutionize" (革命 = revolution). Reform is changing the very skin of a system.