<p>变化 is a noun only, 改变 is a verb commonly, but also a noun. They are interchangeable as a noun in most cases, 改变 usually carries the meaning of positive changes.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-07T12:44:44.580Z
2018-02-07T12:44:44.580Z
xenophōn
<p>改变 always means a better change than before. 变化 just means something changed, it could be better or worse than before.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-18T04:11:51.427Z
2018-02-18T14:12:53.647Z
2018-02-18T14:12:53.647Z
user19131
<p>改变 means to change something or someone by others. For example, 艰苦的生活改变了他的性格. 今年公司改变了一些规章制度.</p>
<p>变化 means transformation. It is a process of the change of something. It implys the difference between now and then. For example, 这座城市发生了很大的变化.</p>
<p>Those two words can be used exchangably. For example, 生活有了很大的变化. 生活有了很大的改变. 生活有了很大的改进. All means the same.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-30T12:16:14.700Z
2023-10-30T12:16:14.700Z
PdotWang
<p>变化 is usually only used on inanimate objects. 改变 can be used on people. Like usual, the difference is not set in stone.</p>
<p>昨天和不見數年的老朋友吃飯，他改變了很多</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-30T02:27:11.893Z
2023-10-30T02:27:11.893Z
fat penguin
<p>The meaning are the same. No matter which word you choose, no native Chinese speaker will give it a second glance.</p>
<p>That being said, I believe typical Chinese will automatically choose 变化 for appearance changes, and 改变 for behavior or character changes. Particularly, we say &quot;孙悟空有七十二般变化。&quot; We never say &quot;孙悟空有七十二般改变。&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-29T22:48:11.930Z
2023-10-29T23:01:52.510Z
2023-10-29T23:01:52.510Z
Zhiyong
<p>变化 happens objectively , 改变 happens subjectively (even in your example the object is omitted).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T08:39:33.220Z
2018-02-08T08:39:33.220Z
FortCpp
<blockquote>
<p>a. 城市已经发生了很大的变化。</p>
<p>b. 城市已经发生了很大的改变。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Comparing 变化 with 改变 in this context, 改变 connotes 城市 is <strong>being changed</strong> (say by people) from the past. Well, 变化 connotes that we see or identify some difference from what the city used to be. 改变 describes the action, <em>change</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T00:58:53.360Z
Thanks Dan - that makes a lot of sense given the context. I'd just never seen 改变 used as a noun before!
Hashamyim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-08T01:06:27.233Z
改变 can be a noun. For example，这种改变是可以被接受的。
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-07T10:26:28.607Z
2018-02-07T10:26:28.607Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dan
<p>Although their noun/verb differences have been covered in other posts, is there any specific difference between using them as nouns only?</p>
<p>For example, is there any difference between:</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li><p>城市已经发生了很大的<strong>变化</strong>。</p>
</li>
<li><p>城市已经发生了很大的<strong>改变</strong>。</p>
</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>

<word-choice>
As nouns, is there any difference between 变化 and 改变?
# As nouns, is there any difference between 变化 and 改变?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-07)

Although their noun/verb differences have been covered in other posts, is there any specific difference between using them as nouns only?

For example, is there any difference between:

> 1. 城市已经发生了很大的**变化**。
> 2. 城市已经发生了很大的**改变**。

**Tags:** word-choice


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## 7 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-02-07. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

> a. 城市已经发生了很大的变化。
>
> b. 城市已经发生了很大的改变。

Comparing 变化 with 改变 in this context, 改变 connotes 城市 is **being changed** (say by people) from the past. Well, 变化 connotes that we see or identify some difference from what the city used to be. 改变 describes the action, *change*.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks Dan - that makes a lot of sense given the context. I'd just never seen 改变 used as a noun before!  
> **username_7**: 改变 can be a noun. For example，这种改变是可以被接受的。  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-07. Score: 1

变化 is a noun only, 改变 is a verb commonly, but also a noun. They are interchangeable as a noun in most cases, 改变 usually carries the meaning of positive changes.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-02-18. Score: 1

改变 always means a better change than before. 变化 just means something changed, it could be better or worse than before.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2023-10-30. Score: 0

改变 means to change something or someone by others. For example, 艰苦的生活改变了他的性格. 今年公司改变了一些规章制度.

变化 means transformation. It is a process of the change of something. It implys the difference between now and then. For example, 这座城市发生了很大的变化.

Those two words can be used exchangably. For example, 生活有了很大的变化. 生活有了很大的改变. 生活有了很大的改进. All means the same.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2023-10-30. Score: 0

变化 is usually only used on inanimate objects. 改变 can be used on people. Like usual, the difference is not set in stone.

昨天和不見數年的老朋友吃飯，他改變了很多


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### Answer by username_5 on 2023-10-29. Score: 0

The meaning are the same. No matter which word you choose, no native Chinese speaker will give it a second glance.

That being said, I believe typical Chinese will automatically choose 变化 for appearance changes, and 改变 for behavior or character changes. Particularly, we say "孙悟空有七十二般变化。" We never say "孙悟空有七十二般改变。"


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### Answer by username_6 on 2018-02-08. Score: -1

变化 happens objectively , 改变 happens subjectively (even in your example the object is omitted).


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