改造 (gǎi zào) — to transform; to reform; to remodel | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

改造 means to fundamentally remake or rebuild something (a place, system, or person) for the better. Broader and more thorough than 改良 (smaller improvements) and more physical/concrete than 改革 (institutional reform).

verb

to transformto reformto remodel

Examples

改造。
Zhèng fǔ jì huà gǎi zào zhè piàn lǎo chéng qū.
The government plans to remodel this old city district.
改造，。
Jīng guò chè dǐ gǎi zào, gōng chǎng de shēng chǎn xiào lǜ tí gāo le.
After a thorough reform, the factory's production efficiency improved.
改造。
Tā cháng shì gǎi zào zì jǐ de sī wéi fāng shì.
He tries to transform his way of thinking.

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 means change and 造 means make, so 改造 is to change and remake something.

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.

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

辵辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

屮

屮chè造zào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Change & Process

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