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变更 (biàn gēng) — to change; to modify; to alter

Definition

变更 (biàngēng) is a formal verb for 'to change/modify' an established plan, policy, or arrangement — heavier than the everyday 改变 and more official than 修改. Often seen in administrative, legal, or business contexts.

verb
to changeto modifyto alter

Examples

  • 变更。
    Gōng sī de guī zhāng zhì dù zuì jìn yǒu le yì xiē biàn gēng.
    There have been some changes to the company's rules and regulations recently.
  • 变更。
    Wǒ men xū yào biàn gēng yí xià yuán lái de jì huà.
    We need to modify the original plan.
  • 变更。
    Zhè cì rén shì biàn gēng ràng hěn duō rén gǎn dào yì wài.
    This personnel change surprised many people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

变biànchange
更gèngalter

The parts both mean change or alter, together indicating modification.

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
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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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