変身

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 変身 (へんしん) is a verbal noun for a change of appearance or identity. 変身した reports a completed change; 変身する follows a condition and presents the ensuing change.
• Basic usage: An actor has transformed into an old man, while a stage protagonist transforms into a monster when the lighting changes.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Completed role transformation and conditional monster transformation
  • The results appear with 老人に and 怪物へ. Both particles point toward the new form, while past and nonpast verb forms organize the event differently in time.