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剧变 (jù biàn) — to change drastically; to undergo a radical transformation

Definition

剧变 (jùbiàn) emphasizes a sudden, dramatic shift in scale — much stronger and more extreme than 改变 or 转变. Closer to 变革, but 变革 stresses deliberate, large-scale reform rather than abrupt upheaval.

verb
to change drasticallyto undergo a radical transformation

Examples

  • ，剧变。
    Guò qù shí nián, zhè ge chéng shì de jīng jì jù biàn le.
    Over the past ten years, this city's economy has changed dramatically.
  • 剧变，。
    Shè huì jié gòu zài duǎn shí jiān nèi jù biàn, ràng dà jiā hěn bú shì yìng.
    The social structure changed drastically in a short time, making everyone feel very disoriented.
  • ，剧变。
    Suí zhe kē jì de fā zhǎn, rén men de shēng huó fāng shì yě zài jù biàn.
    With the development of technology, people's lifestyles are also changing dramatically.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

剧jùdrastic
变biànchange

剧 (drastic) and 变 (change) together give dramatic change.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 劇; 剧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
豦
豦jù劇jù
Same sound today

The traditional form 劇 pairs 豦, which gives the sound, with 刀, a knife; the simplified 剧 is a later shorthand.

Open 剧 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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