更改 (gēng gǎi) — to alter, to change (formal)

Definition

更改 is a formal verb for 'to alter / change,' used on rules, systems, or records. More official and less flexible than 改变; 改动 is the noun form of the same idea.

verb

to alterto change (formal)

Examples

更改。
Wǒ xū yào duì zhè fèn hé tong jìn xíng gēng gǎi.
I need to make changes to this contract.
更改。
Xì tǒng shè zhì yǐ jīng gēng gǎi guò le.
The system settings have already been changed.
更改，。
Qǐng gēng gǎi nǐ de mì mǎ, què bǎo ān quán.
Please change your password to ensure security.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

更gèngchange

改gǎialter

更 and 改 both mean to alter, together emphasizing a 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pūhand holding a whip; action

Sound part声符shēngfú

𰀒

𰀒𰀒更gēng

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

The old form showed two chariots, 𰀒; 攴, a hand holding a whip, was added to show action, and one chariot part was dropped. The remaining part changed into the shape seen in 更.

Open 更 →

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 →

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Change & Process