改口

gǎikǒu

verb #26,815

Meanings

1 to change one's tune
2 to take back what one said
3 to change the way one addresses someone

Characters

to change; to alter

mouth; speech; words

Examples

HSK 4

他说完之后马上改口，说自己说错了。

Tā shuō wán zhīhòu mǎshàng gǎikǒu, shuō zìjǐ shuō cuò le.

He immediately took back what he said, claiming he had misspoken.

HSK 4

他在压力下终于改口承认了错误。

Tā zài yālì xià zhōngyú gǎikǒu chéngrèn le cuòwù.

Under pressure, he finally changed his tune and admitted his mistake.

HSK 7-9

结婚后，她开始改口叫公婆爸爸妈妈。

Jiéhūn hòu, tā kāishǐ gǎikǒu jiào gōngpó bàba māma.

After getting married, she started calling her parents-in-law mom and dad.

Tips

usage

改口 has two distinct uses: (1) retracting or revising something said, and (2) changing how you address someone, especially when a new family relationship forms after marriage.

Stroke Order

改 gǎi

口 kǒu