Chinese word

变

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiàn

Meaning

  • verbchange

Example

天气变了。tiān qì biàn le

The weather changed.

Illustration for 变 (change)

More examples

树的叶子变黄了。shù de yè zi biàn huáng le

The leaves on the tree turned yellow.

Core concept

A boundary is crossed between an earlier condition and a new one, whether the shift happens naturally or someone causes it.

Common phrases

  • 变得biàn de

    become

  • 变成biàn chéng

    turn into

  • 变好biàn hǎo

    get better

Similar words

换huàn: Take one thing or position away and put another in its place.
变成biàn chéng: Become a particular thing or state.
改gǎi: Make corrections or other changes to a method, plan, or content.
改变gǎi biàn: Cause something's state or situation to become different.

Definition in Chinese

表示事物的性质、状态或数量发生改变，既可指自发的变化，也可指由外力或他人引起的改变。biǎo shì shì wù de xìng zhì zhuàng tài huò shù liàng fā shēng gǎi biàn jì kě zhǐ zì fā de biàn huà yě kě zhǐ yóu wài lì huò tā rén yín qǐ de gǎi biàn

Word origin

The modern form 变 (biàn, "change") comes from an older written form connected with transformation, which suits both a thing becoming different and someone making it different.

Usage tips

  • The object provides an important grammar clue: with an object after the verb, the sentence can describe someone changing that thing, while the changing thing can also be the subject.

Other meanings

  • alterverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word