Meaning
改善 means to make something better or to improve a situation, condition, or relationship. It emphasizes positive change and enhancement, often used in formal or semi-formal contexts when discussing improvements to systems, conditions, living standards, or interpersonal relations.
Usage
改善 is commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech. It often appears with objects like 关系 (relations), 生活 (life/living conditions), 环境 (environment), or 状况 (situation). While it can be used in daily conversation, it sounds more educated than colloquial alternatives like 变好 or 弄好.
Examples
- 01政府采取了一系列措施来改善民生。.The government has taken a series of measures to improve people's livelihood.
- 02我们需要改善公司内部的沟通方式。.We need to improve the communication methods within the company.
Characters
Common collocations
- 改善关系to improve relations
- 改善生活to improve living conditions
- 改善环境to improve the environment
- 得到改善to be improved, to get better
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 改 (to change) with 善 (good), literally meaning 'to change toward goodness.' This construction reflects the Chinese philosophical emphasis on moral improvement and positive transformation.