改为 (gǎi wéi) — to change to, to change into

Definition

改为 is a formal written verb meaning 'change (something) into' — it stresses the result/target, more written than spoken.

verb

to change toto change into

改为。
Tā men bǎ jiù zhì dù gǎi wéi xīn zhì dù.
They changed the old system to a new system.
改为，。
Xué xiào gǎi wéi wǔ nián zhì hòu, kè chéng ān pái gèng hé lǐ le.
After the school changed to a five-year system, the curriculum arrangement became more reasonable.
改为。
Qǐng jiāng wén jiàn míng gǎi wéi xīn de gé shì.
Please change the file name to the new format.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

改 gives the sense of change, and 为 gives the sense of becoming, so together they mean change into.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

巳

巳sì改gǎi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An early form of 改 paired 巳 as a sound part with 攴 as a meaning part; the sound part later changed.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.