涂改 (tú gǎi) — to alter (by erasing or covering up changes on a document, record, etc.)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to alter a document or record by erasing or covering up the original. Implies falsification, often in legal, official, or academic contexts (contracts, exam scores, checks).

verb
to alter (by erasing or covering up changes on a document, record, etc.)

Examples

  • 涂改，。
    Zhè zhāng hé tong bèi bié rén tú gǎi guò, yǐ jīng wú xiào le.
    This contract has been altered by someone else and is no longer valid.
  • 涂改。
    Tā yīn wèi tú gǎi kǎo shì chéng jì bèi xué xiào kāi chú le.
    He was expelled from school for altering exam scores.
  • 涂改，。
    Zhī piào shàng de jīn é bèi tú gǎi le, yín háng jù jué duì fù.
    The amount on the check was altered, so the bank refused to cash it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

涂túerase
改gǎialter

“涂” and “改” together describe altering a record by covering or correcting it.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú涂tú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

涂 has 氵 on the left, a form of 水 meaning water, and 余 on the right for the sound.

Open 涂 →

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 →

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