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改进 (gǎi jìn) — to improve, to make better

Definition

改进 (gǎi jìn) means to actively make something better — you change it (a method, product, process). Unlike 进步 or 好转, which describe improvement happening on its own, 改进 emphasizes your deliberate action. Pairs with 方法/流程/产品.

verb
to improveto make better
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 改进。
    Wǒ men xū yào gǎi jìn gōng zuò fāng fǎ.
    We need to improve our working methods.
  • 改进。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn yǐ jīng gǎi jìn le hěn duō.
    This product has already improved a lot.
  • 改进。
    Tā jiàn yì gǎi jìn fú wù liú chéng.
    He suggested improving the service process.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

改gǎichange
进jìnadvance

改 means change and 进 means advance, so 改进 is to change something so it moves forward.

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.

Open 改 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Change & Process

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