改编 (gǎi biān) — to adapt (a literary work, script, etc.)

Definition

改编 is to adapt a work into a new form (novel → film, script → stage). Unlike 修改/修订, it implies reshaping the medium, not just fixing content.

verb

to adapt (a literary work, script, etc.)

改编。
Zhè bù xiǎo shuō bèi gǎi biān chéng le diàn shì jù.
This novel was adapted into a TV series.
改编。
Dǎo yǎn zhèng zài gǎi biān yí bù jīng diǎn zuò pǐn.
The director is adapting a classic work.
改编。
Tā huā le sān gè yuè gǎi biān zhè ge jù běn.
He spent three months adapting this script.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

改 means revise and 编 means edit or arrange, so together they express adapting a work.

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.

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 編; 编 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìthread

Sound part声符shēngfú

扁

Same sound today

The traditional form 編 pairs 糸 (thread), for knitting a book together, with 扁 as the sound part; the simplified 编 is only a shorthand.

Appears in