変
KANJI DETAIL
change
On readingへん9 strokesN2
Radical 夊 · walk slowlyStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 変.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- へん
- Kun reading
- かわる, かえる
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
変means changing; its on-reading isへん, and its kun-readings areかわるandかえる. - Basic usage:
変わる(かわる)describes something changing, while変える(かえる)describes changing something.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A changing landscape and an altered schedule
景色は十年で大きく変わったmeans that the scenery changed greatly over ten years. The past form of変わるis変わった.遠足の日程を変えたmeans that someone changed the picnic schedule. The past form of変えるis変えた, distinguishing a changed state from the action of changing something.

