変 (biàn) - Change, transform, alter & unusual, strange

変Tone 4

biàn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

変 · biàn

Change, transform, alter;

unusual, strange;

to become different;

used in words related to transformation and mutation.

Change, transform, alterunusual, strangeto become different

Usage highlights

ChangeStrangeTransformationMutationVariableAlteration

Synonyms

  • 変化— change, transformation
  • 変更— modification, alteration

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The weather suddenly changed (天気が変わりました).
  • He has a strange personality (性格が変).
  • The situation is changing rapidly (状況が変わりつつある).
  • This is an unusual phenomenon (変な現象).

Collocations

  • Change(変化)
  • Strange(変な)
  • Transformation(変身)
  • Mutation(変異)
  • Variable(変数)
  • Alteration(変更)

Idioms

  • The situation changes rapidly(変転極まりない)
  • Change according to circumstances(臨機応変)
  • Strange and suspicious(怪奇変幻)
  • Change of heart(心変わり)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in Japanese as a simplified form of 變 (change/transform) with broader usage than Chinese variants.
  • Appears in many technical terms related to mathematics (variable) and biology (mutation).
  • Has both positive (adaptation) and negative (strange/abnormal) connotations depending on context.

FAQ