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变成 (biàn chéng) — to turn into, to become

Definition

变成 marks a complete change into a new state or role (often a noun, like ‘a translator’). Use 变 when the result is an adjective; 成为 is more formal for the same ‘become’ meaning.

verb
to turn intoto become

Examples

  • ，变成。
    Chūn tiān lái le, tiān qì biàn chéng nuǎn huo le.
    Spring has come, and the weather has become warm.
  • ，变成。
    Tā nǔ lì xué hàn yǔ, xiàn zài biàn chéng le yí gè fān yì.
    He worked hard at Chinese and has become a translator.
  • 变成？
    Nǐ xī wàng zì jǐ wǔ nián hòu biàn chéng shén me yàng de rén?
    What kind of person do you hope to become in five years?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

变biànchange
成chéngbecome

The first part means change, and the second adds becoming or completion, together indicating turning 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →
Appears in
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