整改 (zhěng gǎi) — to rectify and improve; to reform

Definition

整改 (zhěnggǎi) is a formal noun for organized corrective action — 'rectification' or 'reform' — used for problems in management, environment, or safety that an authority orders fixed. The whole process, not a single change.

noun
to rectify and improveto reform

Examples

  • 整改。
    Gōng sī de guǎn lǐ zhì dù xū yào zhěng gǎi.
    The company's management system needs reform.
  • 整改。
    Wǒ men duì zhè cì zhěng gǎi fēi cháng mǎn yì.
    We are very satisfied with this rectification.
  • 整改。
    Huán jìng zhěng gǎi yǐ jīng kāi shǐ le.
    The environmental rectification has already begun.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

整zhěngrectify
改gǎiimprove

整 and 改 are two parallel actions, rectify and change, together meaning reform and improve.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng整zhěng
Same sound today

整 pairs 敕 as the meaning side with 正 as the sound side.

Open 整 →

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 →

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