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改动 (gǎi dòng) — to alter, to modify, to revise

Definition

改动 emphasizes making small, concrete changes to an existing text, plan, or arrangement. Closer to 修改 in meaning than to 改变, which is broader and more abstract.

verb
to alterto modifyto revise

Examples

  • 改动？
    gǎi dòng Yí xià jì huà zěn me yàng?
    How about making a few changes to the plan?
  • 改动。
    Zhè ge fāng àn xū yào gǎi dòng jǐ gè dì fāng.
    This plan needs a few modifications.
  • 改动。
    Tā gēn jù yì jiàn gǎi dòng le fāng àn.
    He revised the plan based on the feedback.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

改gǎichange
动dòngmove

改 means change and 动 means move, so 改动 covers altering or shifting something slightly.

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 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

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

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