gǎi

to change

to alter; to transform; to correct

oneself (己) + strike (攵) = change and correct

攵 is a hand holding a stick, suggesting a corrective strike or prodding action. Together, the idea is: tap yourself into a new shape — alter, correct, reform.

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OneselfSemantic
Hand with a stickSemantic

这个字写错了,你一下吧。

zhè ge zì xiě cuò le, nǐ gǎi yī xià ba.

This character was written wrong; please correct it.

他决定掉早上睡懒觉的习惯。

tā juédìng gǎi diào zǎoshang shuì lǎnjiào de xíguàn.

He decided to change his habit of sleeping in every morning.

Words with 改

更改

gēng gǎi

to alter

游民改造

yóu mín gǎi zào

rehabilitation of displaced persons

过而能改,善莫大焉

guò ér néng gǎi , shàn mò dà yān

If one can change after making a mistake, there is nothing better (idiom)

医改

yī gǎi

reform of the medical system

金改

jīn gǎi

financial reform (abbr. for 金融改革[jin1 rong2 gai3 ge2])

金融改革

jīn róng gǎi gé

financial reform

斗批改

dòu pī gǎi

struggle, criticize, and transform (Cultural Revolution catchcry)

魔改

mó gǎi

(slang) to modify in a fantastical way; to modify heavily

一改再改

yī gǎi zài gǎi

to change (sth) repeatedly

一改故辙

yī gǎi gù zhé

complete change from the old rut (idiom); dramatic change of direction

中俄改订条约

zhōng é gǎi dìng tiáo yuē

Treaty of Saint Petersburg of 1881, whereby Russia handed back Yili province to Qing China in exchange for compensation payment and unequal treaty rights

修改

xiū gǎi

to amend

More characters with 己