改进

• Pinyin: gǎi jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 改 = 己 (self) + 攵 (strike), meaning to change; 进 = 辶 (walk) + 井 (well), meaning to advance

Meaning

To improve; to make better. Enhancing the quality or performance of something.

Emphasises making something already existing better, not creating something new. Common in work, technology, and education contexts. Similar to 改善 but 改进 focuses more on specific improvements to methods or products.

Examples

1. 公司一直在改进产品的质量。 The company has been continuously improving product quality.
2. 老师建议我改进学习方法。 The teacher suggested I improve my study methods.
3. 经过改进，这个软件比以前好用多了。 After improvement, this software is much easier to use than before.

Usage Guide

Context: work, technology, education

Tone: constructive

Do Say

• 我们需要不断改进工作方法。(We need to continuously improve our working methods.)
• 这个方案还有很多可以改进的地方。(There are still many areas for improvement in this plan.)

Don't Say

• 改进天气 (Don't use 改进 for things beyond human control like weather — 改进 implies deliberate human effort to improve something)

Origin & History

Compound of 改 (change, alter) and 进 (advance, progress), meaning to change for the better.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal