Definition
改掉 is a resultative verb compound meaning 'to get rid of (a bad habit, a problem) by changing it.' The first character 改 means 'to change' and 掉 means 'to drop/off,' so together it means 'to change away.' You can insert 得 or 不 between the two characters to express possibility: 改得掉 (can get rid of), 改不掉 (cannot get rid of). It is commonly used with negative habits or undesirable traits.
r.v.
to get rid of (a bad habit, a problem)to correct and eliminate
Examples
- 改掉。Tā juédìng gǎi diào chōuyān de huài xíguàn.He decided to get rid of the bad habit of smoking.
- 改掉。Zhège máobing hěn nán gǎi diào.This bad habit is hard to get rid of.
- ？Zhège huài xíguàn tā gǎi de diào ma?Can he get rid of this bad habit?
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.