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改革 (gǎi gé) — to reform

Definition

改革 (gǎigé) means large-scale, systemic reform — typically institutions, systems, or policies. More sweeping than 改造 (remodel/transform a specific thing) and 改良 (gradual improvement).

verb
to reform
Measure word · 次, 种, 项

Examples

  • 改革。
    Guó jiā zhèng zài gǎi gé jiào yù zhì dù.
    The country is reforming its education system.
  • 改革。
    Gōng sī bì xū gǎi gé guǎn lǐ fāng fǎ.
    The company must reform its management methods.
  • 改革。
    Xīn zhèng cè huì gǎi gé nóng cūn jīng jì.
    The new policy will reform the rural economy.

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
革gérenew

改 means change and 革 means remove or renew, so together they express reform.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

革 is drawn as a stretched animal hide, with the upper part as the head and the lower part as the tail and legs.

Open 革 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Change & Process

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