变

變

biàn

亦 + 又

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

biàn (verb) to change; to transform

biàn (verb) to vary; to become different

Etymology

Simplified form of 變. Phonosemantic compound. 夂 represents the meaning and 䜌 represents the sound.

About

变 is the simplified form of 變, a phonosemantic compound. Its structure places 亦 ("also") over 又 ("right hand"), streamlined from the traditional version. In the complex original, the sound element 䜌, a combination of intertwined silk threads 絲 and a speech component 言, sits above 攵, a hand holding a stick or tool. This traditional form evokes the painstaking act of striking or untangling knotted threads, capturing the core idea of change, transformation, or shifting from one state to another.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

天气变冷了。

Tiānqì biàn lěng le.

The weather got cold.

我的计划改变了。

Wǒ de jìhuà gǎibiàn le.

My plan changed.

她变得非常高兴。

Tā biàn dé fēicháng gāoxìng.

She became very happy.

这座城市变化很大。

Zhè zuò chéngshì biànhuà hěn dà.

This city has changed a lot.

随着时间推移，事物都会变。

Suízhe shíjiān tuīyí, shìwù dōu huì biàn.

As time passes, things will change.

他的态度突然发生了转变。

Tā de tàidù tūrán fāshēng le zhuǎnbiàn.

His attitude suddenly changed.

如果你不努力，情况就不会变好。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù nǔlì, qíngkuàng jiù bù huì biàn hǎo.

If you don't work hard, the situation won't improve.

科技的发展使我们的生活不断变化。

Kējì de fāzhǎn shǐ wǒmen de shēnghuó bùduàn biànhuà.

The development of technology constantly changes our lives.

Related Characters

Component: 亦

Component: 又

变