Comparing "gai" and "gaibian"
改 (gǎi) and 改变 (gǎibiàn) are both verbs that are similar in the fact that they mean to change and can sometimes be used interchangeably. 改 is used in informal situations, whereas 改变 can be used in both informal and formal contexts. A key difference between these words is that 改 also means to "correct" or "rectify" a mistake. Furthermore, 改变 can also be used as a noun.
| 改 (gǎi) | 改变 (gǎibiàn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to change, to correct | to change; a change |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb, noun |
| Formality | informal | flexible |
