Kanji N2

改: reformation, change, modify

改 is a JLPT N2 kanji meaning reformation, change, modify, written with 7 strokes. It is read カイ (on) and あらためる, あらたまる (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 4. You will see it in 改正 (かいせい, revision) and 改造 (かいぞう, remodeling).

改

Meanings

  • reformation
  • change
  • modify
  • mend
  • renew
  • examine
  • inspect
  • search
Strokes7
JLPT levelN2
School gradeGrade 4
Frequency#147 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • カイ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • あらためる
  • あらたまる

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

12345670 / 7

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 7. Start at the dot.

Common words with 改

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 改正かいせい

    revision; amendment; alteration

    JLPT N2
  • 改造かいぞう

    remodeling; remodelling; reconstruction

    JLPT N2
  • 改善かいぜん

    betterment; improvement

    JLPT N3
  • 改めるあらためる

    to change; to alter; to revise; to replace

    JLPT N2
  • 改札かいさつ

    examination of tickets

    JLPT N2
  • 改めてあらためて

    another time; again; over again; once again

    JLPT N2
  • 改革かいかく

    reform; reformation; reorganization

    JLPT N1
  • 改定かいてい

    revision (of a rule, price, etc.); alteration

    JLPT N1

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.