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改名换姓 (gǎi míng huàn xìng) — to change one's given name and surname (often to conceal identity)

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning to change one's given name and surname, typically to hide one's identity or start a new life — literally: 'change name, switch surname'.

idiom
to change one's given name and surname (often to conceal identity)

Examples

  • ，改名换姓，。
    Tā wèi le táo bì zhuī bǔ, gǎi míng huàn xìng, bān dào le piān yuǎn de xiǎo zhèn.
    He changed his name to escape pursuit and moved to a remote town.
  • 改名换姓，。
    Tā jué dìng gǎi míng huàn xìng, chóng xīn kāi shǐ zì jǐ de rén shēng.
    She decided to change her name and start her life anew.
  • ，改名换姓，。
    Tā jīng lì le nà chǎng shì gù hòu, gǎi míng huàn xìng, bú zài hé guò qù yǒu rèn hé lián xì.
    After that accident, he changed his name and cut all ties with the past.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

改名change name
改gǎichange名mínggiven name
动宾Verb + object
换姓change surname
换huànchange姓xìngsurname
动宾Verb + object

改名 and 换姓 are parallel, with 改 and 换 meaning change and 名 and 姓 referring to given name and surname.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

名 puts 夕 (crescent moon) above 口 (mouth), showing a name spoken in the dark.

Open 名 →

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 換; 换 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
奐
奐huàn換huàn
Same sound today

For the traditional form 換, 手 is the hand part and 奐 gives the sound; this note is about 換, not the simplified 换.

Open 换 →

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
女女nǚwoman; female
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng姓xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

姓 combines 女 (woman) with 生, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 姓 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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