改动

• Pinyin: gǎi dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 改 = 己 + 攴 (change, alter); 动 = 云 + 力 (move, act)

Meaning

To alter; to modify; to make targeted changes to an existing work, document, plan, or arrangement.

Implies specific, localised modifications rather than a wholesale revision or overhaul. Common in editorial, legal, architectural, and technical contexts. Often implies that the changes, though seemingly minor, may be significant. Key collocations: 稍加改动 (with minor changes), 不得擅自改动 (must not be altered without authorisation), 大幅改动 (substantial changes). Synonyms: 修改, 变动.

Examples

1. 合同签署后，任何条款的改动均须双方书面确认，否则不具法律效力。 After the contract is signed, any changes to its terms must be confirmed in writing by both parties; otherwise, they have no legal effect.
2. 建筑师在审阅施工方案后，指出了几处需要改动的细节，并要求施工队在开工前完成修正。 After reviewing the construction plan, the architect pointed out several details that needed to be changed and required the crew to fix them before work began.
3. 编辑对这篇稿件只做了少量文字改动，整体结构与核心论点均得到了保留。 The editor made only minor wording changes to the manuscript; the overall structure and core arguments were preserved.

Usage Guide

Context: editing, legal, technical, architecture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这份设计图纸已经过客户审核确认，未经授权不得擅自改动任何尺寸或材料规格。(This set of design drawings has been reviewed and approved by the client — no dimensions or material specifications may be altered without authorisation.)
• 演讲稿基本定稿，导师建议对结尾段落稍作改动，使结论部分更加有力和清晰。(The speech draft is essentially finalised; the supervisor suggested making slight changes to the concluding paragraph to make the conclusion more forceful and clear.)

Don't Say

• 改动了自己的情绪 — 改动 refers to concrete modifications of documents, designs, or plans; use 调节 or 控制 for managing emotions

Origin & History

改 (change/revise) + 动 (move/act)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal