改良

gǎiliáng

verb HSK 7-9 #17,369

Meanings

1 to improve; to reform
2 to refine; to ameliorate

Characters

to change; to alter

Literally 'change for the better' — implies gradual improvement rather than radical overhaul.

Examples

科学家改良了这个品种。

Kēxuéjiā gǎiliáng le zhège pǐnzhǒng.

Scientists improved this breed.

我们需要改良土壤条件。

Wǒmen xūyào gǎiliáng tǔrǎng tiáojiàn.

We need to improve the soil conditions.

Tips

usage

改良 implies gradual, constructive reform (improving what exists), while 改革 (gǎigé) implies more fundamental, structural change. Historically, 改良派 (reformists) were contrasted with 革命派 (revolutionaries).

Stroke Order

改 gǎi

良 liáng