嬗变 (shàn biàn) — transmutation (e.g., chemical change); evolution (gradual, long-term development); permutation (mathematical sense)

Definition

A formal, written noun for gradual or fundamental change (transmutation, evolution), used in scientific or literary contexts. Note: pinyin is shàn biàn, not chán.

noun
transmutation (e.g., chemical change)evolution (gradual, long-term development)permutation (mathematical sense)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 嬗变。
    Zhè zhǒng yuán sù de shàn biàn xū yào jí gāo de wēn dù.
    The transmutation of this element requires extremely high temperatures.
  • 嬗变。
    Shè huì de shàn biàn wǎng wǎng xū yào shù dài rén de nǔ lì.
    Social evolution often takes the efforts of several generations.
  • 嬗变。
    Shù xué zhōng de shàn biàn zhǐ de shì pái liè shùn xù de biàn huà.
    In mathematics, permutation refers to the change in the order of arrangement.

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.

嬗shànchange
变biànchange

嬗 (change) and 变 (change) combine to mean transformation or evolution.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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.

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