Synonyms of “change” in Chinese

There are four different ways to talk about change in Chinese, each with its own nuance: 變变 biàn, 改變变 gǎibiàn, 變变化 biànhuà, and 變变成 biànchéng. Each of these terms has its own unique nuance, and understanding these subtleties can help you use them more accurately.

變变 biàn (Verb)

變变 biàn + (得 de + Adv.) + Adj

東西dōngxī都dōu變biàn貴guì了le东西dōngxi都dōu变biàn贵guì了le
Things have become more expensive.

我wǒ覺得juéde明天míngtiān天氣tiānqì會huì變biàn冷lěng我wǒ觉得juéde明天míngtiān天气tiānqì会huì变biàn冷lěng
I think the weather will get colder tomorrow.

你nǐ變biàn得de好hǎo高gāo啊a你nǐ变biàn得de好hǎo高gāo啊a
You’ve gotten so tall!

中文zhōngwén變biàn得de越來越yuèláiyuè難nán了le中文zhōngwén变biàn得de越来越yuèláiyuè难nán了le
Chinese is getting harder and harder.

變变成 biànchéng (Verb)

變变成 biànchéng is a verb that needs to be followed by a noun. In English, it’s translated as “change into” rather than just “change.”

變变成 biànchéng + Noun

自從zìcóng他tā在zài台灣Táiwān住zhù了le5 年nián後hòu， 好像hǎoxiàng變成biànchéng了le另外lìngwài一個人yígerén自从zìcóng他tā在zài台湾Táiwān住zhù了le5 年nián后hòu， 好像hǎoxiàng变成biànchéng了le另外lìngwài一个人yígerén
Ever since he lived in Taiwan for five years, it seems like he’s become a completely different person.

10 年nián的de努力nǔlì讓ràng他tā從cóng職員zhíyuán變成biànchéng了le老闆lǎobǎn10 年nián的de努力nǔlì让ràng他tā从cóng职员zhíyuán变成biànchéng了le老板lǎobǎn
Ten years of hard work turned him from an employee into a boss.

聽說tīngshuō要yào變成biànchéng一yí位wèi台灣Táiwān公民gōngmín非常fēicháng困難kùnnán听说tīngshuō要yào变成biànchéng一yí位wèi台湾Táiwān公民gōngmín非常fēicháng困难kùnnán
I’ve heard it’s very difficult to become a Taiwanese citizen.

我wǒ要yào把bǎ你nǐ變成biànchéng我wǒ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu我wǒ要yào把bǎ你nǐ变成biànchéng我wǒ女朋友nǚpéngyou
I’m going to make you my girlfriend.

變变化 biànhuà (Noun)

這麼zhème久jiǔ沒méi見jiàn了le， 你nǐ覺得juéde他tā有yǒu什麼shénme變化biànhuà嗎ma？ 这么zhèyāo久jiǔ没méi见jiàn了le， 你nǐ觉得juéde他tā有yǒu什么shénme变化biànhuà吗ma？
It’s been so long since we’ve seen him, do you think he’s changed?

很hěn多duō人rén對duì中國人Zhōngguórén的de印象yìnxiàng產生chǎnshēng了le變化biànhuà很hěn多duō人rén对duì中国人Zhōngguórén的de印象yìnxiàng产生chǎnshēng了le变化biànhuà
Many people’s impressions of Chinese people have changed.

這zhè些xiē調味料tiáowèiliào會huì為wèi料理liàolǐ帶來dàilái很hěn大dà的de變化biànhuà这zhè些xiē调味料tiáowèiliào会huì为wèi料理liàolǐ带来dàilái很hěn大dà的de变化biànhuà
These seasonings will bring a lot of variation to the dish.

這zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng已經yǐjīng決定juédìng了le， 我wǒ不bù希望xīwàng有yǒu任何rènhé的de變化biànhuà这zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng已经yǐjīng决定juédìng了le， 我wǒ不bù希望xīwàng有yǒu任何rènhé的de变化biànhuà
This matter has been decided, and I don’t want any changes.

For Advance Learners:
變变化 biànhuà can also function as a verb, and it’s a more formal term. It conveys the idea of transformation, focusing on the process of change itself. So, if the direction of the change is clear, we usually use “變变 biàn.” However, if the direction is unclear or we want to emphasize the ongoing nature of the change, we use “變变化 biànhuà” to highlight that process.
For example, in the sentence “天氣變暖以後我們去野餐天气变暖以后我们去野餐” (We’ll go picnic after the weather warms up), it means we’ll only go picnic once the weather has already changed. On the other hand, “這些天天氣變化很快这些天天气变化很快” (The weather changes quickly these days) emphasizes the rapid changes in the weather itself.

改變变 gǎibiàn (Verb and Noun)

改變变 gǎibiàn focuses on the clear differences before and after a change. It’s often intentional and can result in something getting better or worse, but the change is always noticeable.

改變变 gǎibiàn as verb + Noun
Noun + 改變变 gǎibiàn as verb (Used more often)

你nǐ需要xūyào改變gǎibiàn你nǐ的de學習xuéxí態度tàidù你nǐ需要xūyào改变gǎibiàn你nǐ的de学习xuéxí态度tàidù
You need to change your attitude toward studying.

你nǐ的de學習xuéxí態度tàidù真的zhēnde需要xūyào改變gǎibiàn你nǐ的de学习xuéxí态度tàidù真的zhēnde需要xūyào改变gǎibiàn
You really need to change your attitude toward learning.

他tā常常chángcháng改變gǎibiàn主意zhǔyì他tā常常chángcháng改变gǎibiàn主意zhǔyì
He often changes his mind.

雖然suīrán你nǐ的de身份shēnfèn改變gǎibiàn了le， 但是dànshì你nǐ的de生活shēnghuó沒有méiyǒu改變gǎibiàn虽然suīrán你nǐ的de身份shēnfen改变gǎibiàn了le， 但是dànshì你nǐ的de生活shēnghuó没有méiyǒu改变gǎibiàn
Even though your status has changed, your life hasn’t.

說shuō過guò的de話huà是shì不可以bùkěyǐ改變gǎibiàn的de说shuō过guò的de话huà是shì不可以bùkěyǐ改变gǎibiàn的de
Words that have been spoken cannot be changed.

這zhè幾年jǐnián人們rénmen對於duìyú同性戀tóngxìngliàn的de想法xiǎngfǎ有yǒu了le很hěn大dà的de改變gǎibiàn这zhè几年jīnián人们rénmen对于duìyú同性恋tóngxìngliàn的de想法xiǎngfǎ有yǒu了le很hěn大dà的de改变gǎibiàn
n recent years, people’s views on homosexuality have changed significantly.

Summary

變变 biàn: It’s a verb that means “change” or “become” and is typically followed by an adjective.

變变化 biànhuà: It’s a noun that means “change,” emphasizing the process or result of gradual changes.

變变成 biànchéng: It’s a verb that means “change into” or “turn into” and is always followed by a noun.

改變变 gǎibiàn: It’s both a verb and a noun meaning “change.” It emphasizes a deliberate or intentional alteration. When used as a verb, it is typically followed by a noun, or the noun can be placed at the beginning as the topic.

Practice