Meaning:
to change, to correct
Origin:
甲骨文中,“改”的样子是一个小孩跪着,旁边有一只手,拿着棍子打他,要他改正所犯的过错。所以字的本义是“改变”、“更正”。
On oracle bone inscriptions, “改” resembles a kneeling child being beaten by a handheld stick as a way of urging the child to correct his mistakes. The character’s original meaning is “to change” or “to correct.”
Words:
改变 (gǎibiàn) : to change
改行 (gǎiháng) : to change one’s profession
改日 (gǎirì) : to change to some other day 改良:gǎiliáng/to improve
改革 (gǎigé) : to reform
Examples:
1. 几年没见,他改变了很多。
Jǐnián méijiàn, tā gǎibiàn le hěnduō.
We haven’t seen each other for years; he has changed a lot.
2. 我们改日再解决这个问题。
Wǒmen gǎirì zài jiějué zhège wèntí
We will solve this problem some other day.