Chinese word

改善

Pronunciation

Pinyingǎi shàn

Meaning

  • verbimprove

Example

他想改善自己的生活。tā xiǎng gǎi shàn zì jǐ de shēng huó

He wants to improve his life.

Illustration for 改善 (improve)

More examples

我们应该一起努力改善环境。wǒ men yīng gāi yì qǐ nǔ lì gǎi shàn huán jìng

We should work together to improve the environment.

Core concept

Moving an existing weakness, condition, or method toward a better state through a targeted change.

Common phrases

  • 改善生活gǎi shàn shēng huó

    improve life

  • 改善环境gǎi shàn huán jìng

    improve the environment

  • 改善服务gǎi shàn fú wù

    improve service

Similar words

改进gǎi jìn: Revise a method or process so that it works more effectively.
提高tí gāo: Increase the level, standard, ability, or amount of something.
完善wán shàn: Add what is missing to a system or its content and raise its overall completeness.
改良gǎi liáng: Make a thing or product work better or have higher quality through changes.

Definition in Chinese

对缺点、状况或方法等进行调整或改动，使其变得更好。duì quē diǎn zhuàng kuàng huò fāng fǎ děng jìn xíng tiáo zhěng huò gǎi dòng shǐ qí biàn de gèng hǎo

Word origin

改 (gǎi, "change") points to alteration, while 善 (shàn, "good") supplies the direction, making the word easy to connect with change that produces a better result.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, the target is often stated clearly, especially when it is a situation, method, or living condition, while English can leave the object understood.

Other meanings

  • improvementnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 改善措施gǎi shàn cuò shīimprovement measuresnoun
  • 改善方案gǎi shàn fāng ànimprovement plannoun

Word lists with this word