变

• Pinyin: biàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 变 (biàn) — to change; simplified from 變

Meaning

To change; to become; to transform. A versatile verb for changes in state, appearance, or nature.

Can be used alone or as part of compound verbs like 变成 (to become), 变化 (change/variation), 变得 (to become + adjective).

Examples

1. 天气突然变冷了。 The weather suddenly turned cold.
2. 他最近变了很多，变得更成熟了。 He has changed a lot recently, becoming more mature.
3. 这个城市这几年变化很大。 This city has changed a great deal in the past few years.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, personal growth, situations, states

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 情况变好了。(The situation has improved.)
• 他的态度变了。(His attitude has changed.)

Don't Say

• Avoid using 变 alone when 变成 or 变得 is needed — 他变聪明 is less natural than 他变得很聪明 (he became very smart).

Origin & History

Ancient Chinese character depicting transformation. The traditional form 變 contains 丝 (threads) suggesting tangled transformation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal